Quiz night raises $15k for Maj. Wheddon fund

A fundraising drive to set up an educational trust for the three-year-old daughter of a Bermuda Regiment officer killed on duty in England has raised more than $15,000 from a quiz night.

It is thought to be the largest quiz night ever held on the island, with more than 250 people taking part.

One of the organizers, Michael Branco, a past Master in the Broad Arrow Masonic Lodge, where the late Major Chris Wheddon was also a member, said: “Chris was an amazing guy and it’s a testament to how much he was loved.

Stupendous effort

“This was a stupendous effort by everyone involved.”

The cash will be added to around $10,000 already donated by lodge members and invested to provide a substantial education fund by the time Maj. Wheddon’s daughter Katherine reaches college age.

In addition, more funds will be raised by Broad Arrow Lodge members throughout the year to bolster the fund further.

The event – held at Docksiders on Front Street on Saturday night – involved a quiz as well as an auction and raffle.

Among the donated auction prizes were tea for four with Governor George Fergusson, and a two-hour military fitness training session for ten with Bermuda Regiment training Warrant Officer Fred Oldenberg.

Government House also put up two teams for the quiz, one of which included Mr Fergusson and wife Margaret. Mr Branco said: “We are very grateful to everyone who took part or donated prizes. And, from what I can see on Facebook, the family are amazed and touched by people’s generosity.

“Chris was an amazing guy and it’s a testament to how much he was loved that so many people supported us. If we had had a room twice the size, we could have filled that too.”

The quiz was organized with the support of the Regiment, with Maj. Benjamin Beasley, the Adjutant, acting as MC and auctioneer for the evening.

Maj. Beasley – who drummed up bids for auction items like a pro – said: “It went fantastically well. It turned out much bigger than what we planned, but like any good operation, we just adapted.”

Demand for team spots was so high, Docksiders owner Reed Young turned over the front and rear sections of the pub and restaurant to the quiz.

Maj. Beasley added: “It was very slickly run by quizmaster Mike Bishop and his team – and it raised a lot of money for a very good cause.

“Everybody was in a good mood and there for a good time for a good cause.”

Top auction items included a $2750 bid for a pair of round tickets to London, donated by British Airways.

An Outward Bound experience for a group raised the same amount, while tea with the Governor added another $1,000.

A couple of hours with Sgt Maj. Oldenberg netted $750 and golf packages at Port Royal and Riddell’s Bay golf courses raised $400 and $225 respectively.

Interior decoration advice from Room in the Box pulled in $440 and a picnic basket donated by Front Street china store Otto Wurtz raised a further $160.

In addition, Mr Young donated a percentage of drink and food sales from the evening to the fund.

Major Wheddon, who was 43 and slated as a future commanding officer of the Regiment, was killed last October when the car he was a passenger in left the road in Oxfordshire while he was en route to a posting with the Royal Anglian Regiment, the sister battalion to Bermuda’s defence force.

He was buried with full military honours after a packed service at the Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton.

The father-of-one is survived by Katherine, parents David and Margaret, brothers Mark and Julian, also a Regiment officer, and sister Kim. n