There was only one point in it, so well done runners up The Elbow Roomers, making a brief appearance from usual haunt the Wykeham Arms. Perhaps some extra brainpower came from team ringer, a returning and very convivial Mr Hammond. We hope he was happy to see the new trophy, a Mars Bar in a Perspex box with plaque bearing the inscription: The Hammond & Burden Pilgrims’ PPA Quiz Prize. In the dim and distant past the winning team was awarded the prize of a box of out-of-date PPA chocolate (well, it could hardly go to the boys). Two parents from the team, Tara and Phil Robinson, celebrated by creating this luxe trophy. If the Mars Bars were out of date four or so years ago, they’re positively radioactive today, but do show the way a Pilgrim might take knowledge seriously but rarely themselves. 

The evening was beautifully organised by PPA Chair Anna Kennedy and her team, which included Deborah Simpson as maitre d’ and George Burnand moonlighting on the bar before taking over as Quiz Master Extraordinaire, supported by Natalie and a cameo appearance of Old Pilgrim, Peter. A gang of post-exam-happy Year 8 boys helped sell raffle tickets – congrats to all the winners, particularly of the star prizes: a Kyoto Kitchen £50 voucher and six bottles of wine donated by the Wine Blast podcast (current episode: wine and the microbiome, featuring Tim Spector. Fascinating!). Thank you also to all the Year 5 and Year 8 boys who wrote some of the questions – we hope you weren’t heckled in person by any parents this week. Special thanks must also go to the kitchen for rolling out a delicious curry. 

All money raised went to a very worthy local charity, Winchester Youth Counselling. The final amount will be announced in a future newsletter. 

Thank you to everyone involved for a fun and memorable evening. Just don’t mention the 100 Years’ War…

Amanda Fox

(and with many thanks to Amanda Fox from the PPA Chair for organising an excellent raffle!)