THE annual Wolsingham charity quiz, founded by Paul Hutchinson from Wolsingham, has raised over £900 for a cancer charity.
Paul, who owns and runs Wolsingham Taxis, first started fundraising in 2020 with events to raise money for an Alzheimer’s’ charity after his mother was diagnosed. Those events were so successful that some of the people who attended asked him if an annual quiz could be founded.
The first annual quiz was held in 2022 in the St Anne’s Centre in the town, which has been the venue ever since. Last year, the event raised over £1000 for Breast Cancer Care. Other charities helped by the event have also included the children’s diabetic ward at Bishop Auckland Hospital, The Weardale Community Hospital as well as the Teesdale and Weardale Fell and Mountain Rescue Team.
Paul, who is one of a whole team of friends that organise it, intends to continue this annual event and is now deciding which charity they will support next year. 2026 also coincides with the 25th anniversary of his taxi business.
He took the opportunity of thanking everyone who attended the event and those who have helped not only this time but over the last few years.
“We can only do this because local people support the event and they all seem to enjoy it,” he said.
Betty Long from the town is what Paul describes as the driving force behind the continuation of this eagerly awaited annual event. Christine Tennick, also from Wolsingham, is the Quiz Master and Karen Rogers, Dorothy Clarkson and Zena Cain are equally important in running the quiz and ensuring that everything is organised and runs like clockwork.
Although Paul downplays his involvement, in reality it is he who funds it, including providing the trophies.
He said modestly, “I really just turn up and also advertise the event on my Facebook page following on from when I did the first charity event. Although I suppose I founded it initially, I could not have continued without the help and support of a great team of friends. It is their thing, really, and they are the ones who drive the quiz every year.
“I can’t thank them enough.”
