Pat Logue with The Chase star Shaun Wallace

A WHOPPING £3,650 was raised for the New Journal’s hamper fund at the annual Sheephaven Bay Christmas pub quiz on Monday night.

Regulars at the Mornington Crescent pub dug deep into their pockets to raise money for the hamper appeal, an annual delivery of packages full of Christmas goodies to those who are less well-off across the borough.

Shaun Wallace, the famous quizmaster and trivia king from the TV gameshow The Chase was quizzed live in front of the crowd before announcing the winners of the fundraising raffle.

Quiz winners the Prince of Wales: John Aylward, Shaun Wallace, Sue Gregan, Mansoor Ullah and Shahab Mossavat. Right: Mr Wallace with Sheephaven Bay landlord Pat Logue

Prizes included luxury hampers from the Alfred Button Hamper Company. Mr Wallace also auctioned off a top prize consisting of a festive cake made by Sue Gregan and a meal at the Claddagh Ring pub in Hendon.

Ms Gregan’s famous cake, decorated with candy sticks and shamrocks, raised £300, breaking all previous records. “The record is £280,” Mr Wallace said.

Quiz table including Colin Evans, former Big Brother contestant Carole Vincent, Verka Sukova and Adrian Williams

Ms Gregan also sold another cake for £200, bringing her contribution to the Hamper fund to £500 in total.

Mr Wallace praised Ms Gregan’s “scrumptious” cake-baking skills: “It’s a lovely cake – on Christmas Day I’ll be jealous.” Mr Wallace’s team, called the Prince of Wales, won the quiz with 31 out of 40 points.

Mr Wallace and his teammates donated their cash prize back into the hamper fund.

The New Journal, as ever, thanks landlord Pat Logue for putting on the event. It means so much. Every year the fund goes towards buying a festive hamper for those across the borough who need it – whether they’re pensioners, single-parent families or carers.

The luxury hampers, which will be chock-full of delicious Christmas treats, will be delivered by our elves over the next few weeks. At a time of soaring energy bills and rising food prices, for many families Christmas has become a source not of joy, but stress.

Parents across the borough are not just worrying about how to buy gifts for their children, but how to keep them warm and fed over the holidays.

The Sheephaven Bay team with the cheque for the New Journal hamper appeal and, below, Shaun Wallace in full flow

Against this backdrop our hamper appeal is more important than ever. Many of our neighbours will not yet have accepted they are in need of some help.

Some will never have experienced living in poverty before. Our aim has always been to support the lonely, the recently bereaved, those who can’t make ends meet or are simply down on their luck. If you can, we’d love you to make a donation through our website – we make sure every penny goes towards brightening the festive season for those who need it.

Of course, a hamper is not a shiny new smartphone or a brand-new pair of shoes.

More than that, it is a measure of how much we care for one another. Every contribution, big or small, helps towards making someone in need know that others are out there looking out for them. And there’s still time to nominate somebody who you think deserves to receive a hamper.

Just email hampers@camdennewjournal.co.uk to make someone’s festive season shine that little bit brighter.