Archived News - Christmas Puzzle
Gordon's Charity Christmas Puzzle 2011
I am very grateful for the support of many local people and for their generosity - as a result of this year's Puzzle £5,300 will be donated, to be shared equally between five nominated charities: Harpenden Child Contact Centre, Leveque School, Haiti, St Mary's, Eaton Bray, Willen Hospice and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The total raised by the Puzzle is now £46,500 – my thanks to everyone who has helped to make this possible.
Of 324 entries this year, from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and Canada, 29 achieved full marks including a number of local people: Angie Baker, Liz Constable, Iain Stubbs, Margaret Webber & Alison Timman.
A draw, to select four winners, was held at All Saints Church, Dagnall, on 29 January.
The winners, none of whom are local, were: Mr & Mrs M J Fisher, Sally Kettle, Malcolm Moore and Brian Stone. In addition, one entry was drawn at random from among all the entries received, the winner being Peter Cook, who scored 118.5. These five winners each receive a cheque for £30.
You can register to receive a copy of next year's Puzzle at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk.
Next year's Puzzle will be issued on 8 December.
Gordon Gray
Christmas Puzzle 2011 - Snakes and ladders
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 21st annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 22 January 2012.
Gordon posted Puzzles on 5 December, so those already on the distribution list should receive their copies in the next few days. Anyone else who would like a copy of the Puzzle can access it from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk. Alternatively puzzles can be collected from St Mary's Eaton Bray.
All the money you donate, except for the prize-money, will go to charity.
Gordon's Charity Christmas Puzzle 2010
I am very grateful for the support of many local people and for their generosity – as a result of this year’s Puzzle £4,635 will be donated, to be shared equally between five nominated charities.: Accomplish Children’s Trust, Camberley Care Trust, Combat Stress, St Mary’s, Eaton Bray and The Suffolk Punch Trust. The total raised by the Puzzle is now £41,200 – my thanks to everyone who has helped to make this possible.
Of 299 entries this year, from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and Canada, 41 achieved full marks including a number of local people: Liz Constable, Sheila Furnell, Estelle & Paul Marshall, Roger & Helen Wilkinson, A draw, to select four winners, was held at St Mary’s Church, Eaton Bray, on 6 February. The winners, none of whom are local, were: Susan Gibb, Polly Helliar & Marilyn Fursey, Sally Kettle and Jackie & Dave Morgan.
In addition, one entry was drawn at random from among all the entries received, the winner being Sheila Farrow from Luton, who scored 118. These five winners each receive a cheque for £30.
Among other ‘winners’ was a French team, led by Jean-Charles Vechin, who entered the Puzzle for the first time scoring a remarkable 80 out of 85 attempted answers. However did they know where Bill and Ben lived?
Some local people and families have edged towards the top of the Puzzle leader boards, notably:
| Position over past | |||
| Name | 10 years | 5 years | 3 years |
| Liz Constable | = 1st | = 2nd | = 3rd |
| Sheila Furnell | = 4th | = 4th | = 3rd |
| Roger & Helen Wilkinson | = 5th | = 4th | = 2nd |
| Viv & Mel Grundy | = 6th | = 4th | = 3rd |
| The Baker Family | = 3rd | ||
You can register to receive a copy of next year’s Puzzle at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk.
Next year’s Puzzle will be issued on 8 December.
-- Gordon Gray
Source: Focus, March 2011
Christmas Puzzle 2010 - Winnie-the-Pooh
It is nearly time for Gordon Gray to distribute this year's Charity Christmas Puzzle.
This, the 20th annual Puzzle that Gordon has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 23 January.
Four winners will each receive a £30 prize.
Everyone who enters will qualify for a £30 prize draw.
Gordon plans to post Puzzles on 7 December, so those already on the distribution list should receive their copies by 9 December. Anyone else who would like a copy of the Puzzle can access it from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk. You can register early to receive a copy on the issue date of 8 December.
Over £36,000 raised for charity.
£4,700 donated last year.
This year's puzzle will support St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray, plus four other charities.
Accomplish Children's Trust: The aim of Accomplish Children's Trust is to bring relief to disabled children and their families in Africa children - with a current focus on south-west Uganda. The Trust provides support through grants and initiatives for child sponsorship, medical interventions, training and vocational activities and parent support networks. Charity No: 1127235.
Camberley Care Trust: Camberley Care Trust provides a handyman service by a trustworthy person and at affordable prices to many elderly people who are worried about minor repairs and installations, either because they cannot manage the hourly rates asked by trades people, or because they feel vulnerable when admitting them to their homes. Charity No: 298419.
Combat Stress: Combat Stress is the UK's leading military charity specialising in the care of Veterans' mental health, treating conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders. Services are free of charge to veterans. Since 2005 the number of ex-Service men and women seeking help has risen by 72% with a current caseload of more than 4,300 individuals, including 102 Veterans who have served in Afghanistan and 400 who served in Iraq. Charity No: 206002.
St Mary's, Eaton Bray: The church where Gordon is Reader. Charity No:1129952.
The Suffolk Punch Trust: The Trust was set up in 2002 to take the Colony Stud at HM Hollesley Prison into private charitable ownership. The Trust's primary aims are to expand the Suffolk Punch breed, make the horses more accessible to the general public, continue the therapeutic, rehabilitation and training programmes for prison inmates, undertake conservation and heritage education for all age groups and the socially excluded and to encourage eco-tourism. Charity No: 1100596.
Christmas Puzzle 2009 - Time, gentlemen, please
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 19th annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 24 January.
Four winners will each receive a £25 prize.
Everyone who enters will qualify for a £25 prize draw.
So what are you waiting for, give it a go and download the Christmas Puzzle now.
Christmas Puzzle 2008 - Theirs not to reason why
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 18th annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 25 January.
Four winners will each receive a £25 prize.
Everyone who enters will qualify for a £25 prize draw.
So what are you waiting for, give it a go and download the Christmas Puzzle now.
Gazette Gossip
It's time to talk about the birds and the bees. No, not that kind. The Birds And The Bees was the title for the latest charity Christmas puzzle from Northall villager Gordon Gray.
It was more popular than ever. And the even better news is that the puzzle raised £3,600, shared between Michael Sobell House Hospice, Mount Vernon, Romania Care, and the restoration of the Harrison & Harrison Organ, St Albans Cathedral.
So far, in the past 17 years, the puzzle has raised more than £27,600 for good causes - including almost £10,000 in the past four years.
Now, I like to think I'm organised, but I'm staggered that almost 100 people have already registered online for the next Christmas puzzle.
Even more amazing, Gordon has already set the brainteaser.
But you'll have to wait before you can put on your thinking cap - it won't be released until early December.
If you'd like to find out more, just check out the website at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk.
For the latest news from Eaton Bray and beyond, get the Dunstable Gazette every Wednesday and make a daily date with Dunstable Today.
Source: Anne O'Donoghue, Dunstable Gazette, 13 February 2008
Christmas Puzzle 2007 - The birds and the bees
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 17th annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 27 January.
Four winners will each receive a £25 prize.
Everyone who enters will qualify for a £25 prize draw.
Gordon plans to post Puzzles on 8 December, so those already on the distribution list should receive their copies by 12 December. Anyone else who would like a copy of the Puzzle can access it from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk. Alternatively puzzles can be collected from St Mary's Eaton Bray on Sunday 9 December.
Over £24,000 raised for charity
Over £3,000 donated in each of the last three years
This year's puzzle will support three charities Romania Care, the restoration of the Harrison & Harrison Organ, St Albans Cathedral, and Michael Sobell House Hospice, Mount Vernon.
Christmas Puzzle 2006 - 5 Out Of 5
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
For full details, please go to the Christmas Puzzle website.