The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2016 - Issue 47 | Page 22

Farm News

RIX PETROLEUM AND ALNWICK YOUNG
FARMERS TEAM UP IN FIVE YEAR DEAL
RIX Petroleum North East has teamed up with Alnwick Young
Farmers as part of a five-year sponsorship deal.
» THE DEAL WILL SEE THE LEADING,
family-owned fuel company, which has a
depot on Willowburn Industrial Estate in the
town, help the young farmers’ group raise
awareness and provide marketing support
including covering the design and print
costs of flyers and leaflets.
Rix Petroleum also supplied branded
club kit to the group and will help with
promoting events such as Alnwick Young
Farmers’ annual event, The Farmers’ Ball.
Some members of the club will be joining
Rix on their stand at this year’s Glendale
show, which took place on 29 August.
A Rix tanker operating across
Northumberland has also been branded up
to celebrate the partnership.
Tim Claxton, manager of Rix Petroleum’s
Alnwick depot, said he was delighted to be
involved with Alnwick Young Farmers.

Tim Claxton (second row, third from the
left in a suit), manager of Rix Petroleum’s
Alnwick depot, with club members.

He said: “Delivering gas oil and
domestic heating oil to farmers, rural
businesses and homes is in Rix’s DNA. We
have been serving rural communities for
more than 80 years and take a lot of pride

in ensuring we provide the best possible
service we can to people who live and
work in some of the UK’s most out of the
way places.
“The Young Farmers is a vital social
outlet for many young people living in the
countryside and we think that that is very
important to support. Many are also the
next generation of farmers and country
people and we feel that with the collective
knowledge we have amassed over the
years we have something to offer them as
they take on the challenges of farming in
the 21st century.”
Alnwick Young Farmers Secretary Jess
Straker said: “Having a five-year deal
in place is fantastic for Alnwick Young
Farmers because it means we’re able to
organise and promote events knowing we
have the backing of a big company.

WEAR HELMETS ON QUAD BIKES,
PLEADS FARM SAFETY CHIEF
» AN AGRICULTURE SAFETY CHIEF HAS
urged farmers not to ignore simple lifesaving advice to wear helmets when riding
quad bikes.
Rick Brunt’s call comes after details of an
horrific incident, when a teenager suffered
a serious head wound, emerged in court
proceedings.
The farm worker, aged 17, from Shap,
Cumbria, was trapped underneath an
overturned quad bike for an hour with a
wound that later needed 17 stiches.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard (on 20
June) that family partnership JF & M Bland
had contracted the worker for general
agricultural duties and he was instructed
to use the firm’s quad bike to get to a large
sloping field.
He did so, without any training, and
with no helmet provided for him to wear.
The vehicle overturned and it was an hour
before one of the partners of the company
found him.

22 Aug/Sep 2016 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

After investigating the circumstances of
the incident, which happened in April 2014,
the Health and Safety Executive decided to
prosecute JF & M Bland, of Dacre, Penrith,
for breaches of health and safety laws.

The company pleaded guilty to
breaching Regulation 9(1) of the Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
1998. It was fined £6,000 and ordered to
pay costs of £4,693.
Rick Brunt, head of agriculture at HSE,
said: “Vehicle-related accidents are a
significant problem in agriculture and one
of the biggest killers. Only people who
are trained and capable should operate
all-terrain vehicles, like quad bikes. Every
year, on average, we see two deaths and
numerous injuries involving ATVs.”
HSE inspector Matthew Tinsley, who
investigated and prosecuted for HSE,
said: “This is a reminder to all farmers and
farm workers that it just isn’t worth taking
unnecessary risk. Training is vital, as is head
protection. This is simple, common sense
advice that, if followed, can save lives.”
For further information on ATV safety
seehttp://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais33.pdf