MQL Golden Jubilee Dinner - 3rd April 2009
As part of MQL's Golden Jubilee Celebrations, a dinner was held at the Village Hotel, Whiston on Friday 3rd April. Pictured left to right on top table are Frank McFarlane (MQL Chairman), Barry Simmons (Guest Speaker) and Ken Smith (MQL President).
Chairman Frank McFarlane welcomed those present. After the meal President Ken Smith entertained those present with MQL memories and anecdotes from over the years. It was then the job of MQL Treasurer Dag Griffiths to introduce guest speaker Barry Simmons from BBC2's 'Eggheads'. Barry entertained us with stories from his quizzing career and gave us several insights into the running of Eggheads and how he became a member of the team.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by all and a big thank you must go to Angela Houghton as co-ordinator of the event.
Merseyside Grand Prix - 2nd May 2009
As part of MQL's Golden Jubilee Celebrations, a Grand Prix Event was held at St Ann's Millennium Centre in Rainhill in conjunction with quizzing.co.uk.
The event attracted a record number of entrants from all over the country including over thirty MQL players, many of whom were sampling this type of quizzing for the first time. The field included two World Champions, two £1m pound winners on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and other big money winners as well as series winners from Brain of Britain, Mastermind, Fifteen to One etc. Two of the BBC Eggheads team were also in attendance and during the day the BBC were auditioning for a new series of 'Are You An Egghead?'
The morning session was taken up by the individual quiz set by Dag Griffiths and the afternoon schedule included a number of team quizzes played on MQL format. A big thank you to Mark Kerr for organising the venue and to his fellow setters for the afternoon's quizzing - Alan Gibbs, Chris Quinn, Darren Martin, John Wilson, Pat Gibson and Tom Farley. Thanks also are due to Graham Barker for providing overflow accommodation for the afternoon event.
Fittingly the individual quiz was won by a Merseysider - Pat Gibson (Old Dog - Ormskirk)
As is tradition with Grand Prix events, a thoroughly enjoyable day was rounded off in the evening by many of the attendees repairing to a local hostelry and curry house.
MQL 50th Anniversary Presentation Evening May 21st 2009
St Charles Parochial Centre, Aigburth