BOW Young Farmers’ Club new members evening, held at Down St Mary Village Hall on Tuesday evening, attracted eight prospective new members, a good sign for the club’s future.

During the evening the club members presented two bumper cheques, the result of fundraising during the year.

A cheque for £5,000 was presented to Devon YFC’s New Building Appeal representative Liz Priest, the chairman of the board of management of Devon YFC.

Liz, in her “thank you” speech, said that the money will go towards costs for the purchase and conversion of the former Mulberry Inn at Cheriton Bishop into the new Devon YFC Centre.

She said: “Thank you to everyone who has supported the New YFC building appeal.

“We are very grateful for all the support and believe that the centre will be a wonderful opportunity and resource once we have finished the works.

“We are delighted to report that we have raised sufficient funds to start the work on the building and the builders have moved in this week, this is phase one and we still have phase two and three to complete after this, so please do keep fundraising and supporting this very worthwhile project.”

To raise the money, Bow YFC held a comedy and auction night in Lapford, which was a huge success, raising £3,121.07.

Other fundraisers included an Easter Bingo, profits from the club’s 70th anniversary dinner and dance and profits from the Bow Big Bash, a disco evening.

A second cheque, to Devon Air Ambulance Trust was also presented during the new members evening.

This was for £505 and was raised by holding a dung sale in the Lapford and Morchard Bishop areas.

Liz Priest added that she would like former young farmers to become vice-patrons of Devon YFC or join its supporters club to help support the New Building Appeal and YFC movement.

Alan Quick