A significant donation of £25,000 was presented to Tom Lock, Somerset Young Farmers Club chairman, by Cornish Mutual at a well supported champagne & strawberries cream tea reception hosted at The Royal Bath & West Show on Wednesday afternoon.

Nick Howe and Philip Wilson, representatives from Cornish Mutual, presented the cheque in the presence of the Federation President Mr Eric Parker and a host of vice presidents, county officers, friends, and guests including the Bishop of Bath & Wells, the Rt. Rev Peter Hancock.

Tom Lock was very gracious in receiving the cheque, thanking the Cornish Mutual team for this generous sponsorship.

He enlightened all that the money would benefit the Federation and all its members by improving the training and meeting facilities for the membership at the county headquarters at The Old School, Westonzoyland.

The Federation is looking forward to working with Cornish Mutual, especially in highlighting and improving farm safety in the County.

Philip Wilson informed the guests during his presentation speech that Cornish Mutual were founded by a group of Cornish Farmers 114 years ago, and amalgamated with the Somerset Farmers Mutual 71 years ago, so have a strong pedigree of insuring and protecting farmers in the South West.

Cornish Mutual also provide specialist risk awareness and insurance advice as well as free health and safety seminars and talks.

The insurer offers a personal award winning service across a range of insurances including: farm and diversified commercial business, home, let property, agricultural motor vehicle, agricultural and commercial fleet, motor trade, commercial property owners, special events and personal accident.

In 2012 Cornish Mutual gained chartered insurer status, and they were the first mutual insurance company in the UK, and the first insurer in the South West, to achieve this level of recognition from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Highlights of the year for the company include another series of successful free health and safety events held across the South West region, which have won best campaign in the public interest at the third annual Public Interest Awards, run by the Chartered Insurance Institute.