Tarrant's trivia night got Surrey quizzing for Princess Alice Hospice!

Friends Extra headed by Jan Hargrave, Hospice Trustee, built on the success of last year's quiz night and hosted a second 'Trivia with Tarrant' event on Friday 15 October with Hospice Vice President and star of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' Chris Tarrant as question master.

The quiz in the Solario suite at Sandown Park, Esher, played host to two hundred guests who enjoyed a night of food, drinks, fun and most importantly fundraising.  Last year's event made £6,500, its success ensuring a repeat event.  This year the target was smashed and £7,500 was generated from ticket sales, auction, flower table raffle, Hospice lottery sales and the selling of jokers and quiz clues throughout the evening.

The night kicked off with the traditional game of 'Heads and Tails', with the standard sports, film, history and literature rounds and the more unusual bird's eye view, beat the intro and the multi marathon rounds there was something to interest and challenge everyone.  The quiz was supported by the team from Mundays Solicitors.  The company has supported the Hospice for a very long time with its founder Peter Munday, acting as a trustee for the charity.  A group of solicitors from the firm set the questions and acted as the adjudicators and markers on the evening.

The auction presided over by professional auctioneer and TV antiques expert Mark Longson of Wellers Auctioneers was a great success, thanks to Mark's skill and to the generously donated prizes including a week in a luxury villa in the South of France, a photography session with Andy Newbold, the official Royal Variety Performance photographer, luxury beauty products courtesy of Nadine Baggott, Beauty Editor at Hello Magazine, Piping Bag cupcakes and champagne from Louis Roederer, Hospitality tickets at the Emirates Stadium, Eurostar tickets and dinner for six in the comfort of your own home from local catering company Bowled Over.  The auction lots proved popular with some competitive bidding resulting in an incredible £4,000 being raised.

The winning team, led by Louise Clifford and the Hospice's Communication Officer D. Hutchings, celebrated their win with a prize of two cases of wine that they generously donated back to the charity.  The losing team won a traditional booby prize of a wooden spoon; however, with each one signed by Chris Tarrant, they will no doubt become a treasured memento of a great night of fun and fundraising.

Jane Hargrave, Chair, Friends Extra said:

'I would like to say a huge thank you to the event volunteers and to Cathrine Alexander at the Hospice who made the event such a success. We need even more members to join Friends Extra and so if you want to be part of this fun group and make a difference contact the Hospice and join us for quizzes, luncheons, supper parties and other fundraising events.  I would like to say a huge thank you to Mark Longson of Wellers, the Mundays team and to Chris Tarrant for giving up his free time and for his continued and dedicated support of Princess Alice Hospice'.

For further details about other Hospice events such as Santa Fun Runs and Candlelight Christmas Concerts or to join Friends Extra, please telephone 01372 461869 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .