The staff at the Sheephaven Bay hand over the big cheque to our reporter Daisy Clague

A MIGHTY £4,285 was raised for the New Journal’s hamper fund at the annual Sheephaven Bay Christmas pub quiz on Monday night. The bar in Camden Town was packed as 42 teams turned out to play.

It all kicked off with Shaun Wallace, the quiz legend from ITV game­show The Chase, taking a stream of questions in front of a pub.

The pub donated £10 for every one he got right in a minute – meaning £170 was instantly posted on the totaliser board.

Mr Wallace has now been generously appearing at the quiz for 10 years in a row.

“It’s one of the highlights of my quizzing calendar and that is because of the extraordinary generosity shown by the regulars in raising money for worthwhile charitable causes who are in much need of funds to keep going,” Mr Wallace said.

Shaun Wallace from The Chase and quizmaster John Mahon

The Destroyer, as he’s known, was also on hand to announce the winners of the fundraising raffle, with prizes including luxury hampers sponsored by Meil Williams of the Stonegate pub group.

He then auctioned off the famous Christmas cakes made by Sue Gregan decorated with silver stars and holly after Michelle Stevens, the barmaid of the Sheephaven Bay who had the winning raffle ticket said it should be sold to raise even more money.

Shaun Wallace helps auction Sue Gregan’s famous cakes

It was snapped up for £200. Mr Wallace’s own team, The Prince of Wales, didn’t manage to win this year, coming in joint second place with 36 points out of a possible 40.  The questions are published in this week’s paper if you would like to have a go yourself.

The winning team at this year’s Christmas hamper quiz

First place at the quiz went to a team called Henry VIII, a group of friends from Exeter University, enjoying a night out in Mornington Crescent.

Their team captain Jack Taylor said: “Luckily we had a good mix of knowledge. I’m pretty shocked we won but it is a nice surprise.”

The New Journal’ s team of journalists didn’t come last this year, but faced the shame of being beaten by a team of first-timers from the Camden Council press office.

The New Journal, as always, thanks Sheephaven Bay landlord Pat Logue for putting on the event, and this year’s quizmaster John Mahon. Every year the fund goes towards providing a festive hamper for those in the borough who most need it – community groups, pensioners, single-parent families or carers.

The hampers will be delivered by our elves in the next couple of weeks. To see how you can still help the appeal or nominate a potential recipient, see the donation details in the box on the left of this page.

The quiz maestro and pub landlord Pat Logue with Richard Osley, the New Journal’s editor

You can still donate and make it a record Christmas

TIMES may be tight for so many of us but there has been an extraordinary response to our Christmas Hamper Appeal from readers. In fact, we may be heading for a record total.

The idea is simple, the more we raise, the more special hampers we can send out to those on their own or facing hardship. We started loading up the sleigh – OK, it’s a van – this week, but we want to keep delivering right up to Christmas Eve, and with your help we can order and deliver even more.

So keep the donations coming in at the points above. Anything from a penny upwards can help us.

There is a donation link below, just click the yellow button.

CLICK DONATE TO HELP THE APPEAL

We will make sure we write about anybody who raises money for the appeal and thanks will be printed in our papers in the New Year.

This is our way – Camden’s way! – of showing that this is a community that cares for its neighbours and that nobody should be left out of the fun which will light up the next fortnight.

If you’d like to discreetly nominate a deserving recipient, please email Dan Carrier on dan@camdennewjournal.co.uk