What has 'Mr Puzzle' won?

Posted on June 24, 2005

Puzzle master Gordon Gray didn't have a clue about the special award lined up for him by Rotarians.

So he really was suprised to be given a prestigious Good Citizen Award by the Rotary Club of Dunstable Downs.

That special award was presented to him here by club president John Dent, at a dinner in honour of the charity fundraiser.

Mr Gray, aged 53, said: "It was a total suprise." He has been raising charity cash from his annual Christmas word puzzle for 14 years.

Puzzle fans who take part make donations to a kitty for worthy causes.

Over the years, the puzzle has raised £18,065 in charity cash. The 2004 Christmas puzzle alone raised £3,010, which gave a £300 boost each to WorkAid, Skillshare and Friends of the Animals, and £2,110 to St Luke's Hospice, Harrow and Brent.

That puzzle attracted entried from Cyprus and France.

Mr Gray, of Northall is a Dunstable Grammar School "old boy" and formerly lived in Dunstable and Houghton Regis. The former Manshead School teacher is a familiar figure in the Eaton Bray and Edlesborough area, through his community work.

He joined the St Mary's Village Carnival committee back in 1989 and took on the busy rold of chairman for five years up to 2003.

This year, he is organising the procession for the carnival, which will take place on July 2 on Edlesborough Green.

Mr Gray is also a reader at St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray, and actively supports young people, including the GIFT (Growing In Faith Together) group.

The next Christmas Puzzle will be on a theme based on a poem and is expected to be available from December 8 from the website www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk.

Source: Anne O'Donoghue, Dunstable Gazette, 22 June 2005