About RABI

RABI is farming's national charity, operating throughout England and Wales. Our central operations are based in Oxford, with regional officers in both the welfare and fundraising departments working at local level. Invaluable support is given by teams of volunteers in each county.

RABI is a member of the Farming Help partnership and works closely with other support agencies.

Our sister charity RSABI helps those in need in Scotland.

RABI's history

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) was founded in 1860 by John Joseph Mechi. In the mid-1800s a group of Essex farmers had become concerned about the level of poverty within the farming community and the absence of an official body to represent them.

In 1859, John Mechi wrote to The Times to rally support for the founding of a benevolent institution, that would seek funds and distribute them to the needy. By 1860, he had received responses from 700 noblemen, gentlemen, farmers and implement makers and donations amounting to 1,700 guineas. Annual subscriptions of 410 guineas were pledged by 450 of the 700 founders who enrolled.

A grant structure was established that entitled the needy to £40 per annum for married couples and 1.5 tons of coal; £26 per annum for single males and 1.5 tons of coal; £20 per annum for females and 1 ton of coal, all payable weekly. Children were to be fed, clothed and educated.

By the end of 1861, the Institution had awarded 'pensions' totalling almost £300.

In its earliest years, the number of applicants far outweighed available funds, but as support gathered pace, by the mid-1930s, RABI was maintaining 1,000 pensioners at an annual cost of £32,000. In recognition of its work, a Royal charter was granted by King George V at a reception to mark the charity's 75th anniversary in 1935.

In 1998 the Charter was amended to include farm workers and their families. At the end of 2001 RABI was nominated as one of five charities for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Year.

We are now heading towards the 150th anniversary of RABI in 2010.

 

John Joseph Mechi

His Death

John Mechi did not die of diabetes, as was generally accepted, but
according to his death certificate as a result of “phrenitis, gastritis,
exhaustion”. Phrenitis is an old fashioned term for what is now called
encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). According to a 1785 book
of domestic medicine, among the causes of phrenitis were “hard
drinking, anger, and grief or anxiety”. There is nothing to suggest
that John Mechi was a hard drinker or given to anger but his rapidly
declining fortunes would certainly have been the cause of a
considerable amount of anxiety.

Inheritence

It is interesting that his son, Joseph, who had worked with his father
in the cutler business, was present at his death and was the chief
mourner at his funeral, was omitted from his will. John’s possessions
went to his wife and then to be divided between their four daughters
while the cutler business and the Tiptree estate were to be
administered by his trustees.

Joseph’s death certificate records that he was “of independent
means” and that one of the causes of his death, at the age of 54,
was epilepsy. If this was something from which he had suffered since
childhood it could be a reason why he did not inherit the business or
the farm.

Funeral

John’s funeral on Saturday 1 January 1881, at St Luke’s Church, Tiptree
- which he had helped to build, was to have been a family affair. A
very full report in the Essex Standard said “..but for the fact that it had
been extensively notified through the press that the funeral was
intended to be a strictly private one, there would doubtless have been a
very numerous and representative gathering for the occasion…” The
paper also pointed out that having it on the same day as Colchester
market would have had an effect on the attendance.

Despite this there was a good turn out with a deputation from RABI,
several employees from “Mr Mechi’s London establishment”, and many
local dignitaries including the MP for Colchester and Admiral Luard CB,
as well as the vicars from four neighbouring parishes and the local
congregationalist minister. After giving a full report on the funeral
service and the interment, the Essex Standard listed those who had
intended but been unable to attend, including the secretary of The
Farmers Club who “had abstained from attending on account of the
wish that the funeral should be of a private character.”

Beside Every Successful Man

Alongside his grave is that of his wife Charlotte who is generally only
mentioned in passing. However, the French agriculturalist M F Robiou
de la Trehonnais, who listed John Mechi as “one of four of the most
distinguished agriculturalists in England” when writing in the Revue
Agricole de l’Angleterre in 1859, has this to say of Charlotte Mechi: “She
is a charming lady, who has made him father of five children and does
the honours of her house with a grace and amenity in keeping with the
magnificent and generous hospitality of her husband.”

Back to top