Mad March Pub Quiz Challenge for Sussex Hospices a big success

Over 100 pub landlords across the county have picked up the challenge and held quizzes, raffles and auctions in aid of Friends of Sussex Hospices, a charity that supports the 12 hospice care providers for the adults and children of Sussex.

Event organiser Patricia Evans said: “I’m overwhelmed by the goodwill and generosity shown by both publicans and quizzers from Chichester to Rye - with an event every single evening of the month and on some days we had seven quizzes taking place.”

Some of the most successful and innovative evenings included: The Laughing Fish at Isfield (Andy & Lynda Brook) who launched the challenge with a result that set the benchmark at an amazing £408; The Plough & Horses at Crowborough (Chris Stanley) sourced some fabulous auction prizes and raised over £1,500; the quiz and splendid raffle at the Shepherd & Dog, Fulking, brought their total to over £300; not to be out done The Cyclist in Brighton raised £377; The Rose & Crown in Fletching £408 and The Cricketers in Wisborough Green a very fine £557.

Robert Bathurst was celebrity quizmaster at The Bell in Ticehurst and made £675; The Star at Waldron, (Paul & Deborah Lefort) who served a scrumptious meal to 90 quizzers generously raised £731 and on the same evening over in Newick at The Crown, mother and daughter team, Claire and Tanya pulled out all the stops on their Quiz and Curry night and achieved a brilliant £1,118; and some enterprising supporters from Stonegate hearing that we had one evening without a quiz took up the challenge and organised one in the Village Hall and added £1,071 to the coffers.

The month finally drew to a close at the Mark Cross Inn, nr. Crowborough, hosted by Amy & Toby confirmed the 2nd MMPQ Challenge, to be a roaring success.

Patricia continued: “A team of volunteers have attended over 30 of the quizzes and will now have a well-deserved rest before they start work all over again for next year’s Mad March Pub Quiz Challenge.

“Details of all our wonderful pubs, whose contributions were invaluable, and have not been mentioned can be found on the website: www.friendsofsussexhospices.org.uk .”

Report and pictures contributed by Friends of Sussex Hospices.