A QUIZMASTER who has helped raised thousands of pounds for charity will be firing off his final question next month.

Mike Williams, who has been running popular quizzes since the 1980s, will host his final quiz - the 29th Sundella Trophy - on Friday, March 13.

Sponsored by Paul Tate-Smith, the Sundella Trophy quiz has been run annually since 1992, for a variety of charities, including Saint Catherine’s, Malton School and local scout groups.

Mike said: “The opportunity came up to start a quiz to raise money for Malton School and since then we have raised around £100,000 for numerous charities.”

Mike, who is retiring at the beginning of April and moving with his wife, Fiona, to Derbyshire, said he considered organising the quizzes as a hobby.

“The aim is to test the teams, but you also want people to enjoy it so I have a variety of rounds, including sport, entertainment and pictures, with a final brain teasers round which is more testing.”

Over the years Mike, who also runs a number of charity quizzes around Ryedale each year, has built up a strong band of followers with teams coming from as far afield as Leeds and Scarborough, as well as more local supporters. “I am grateful for all the support people have given me over the years and also to the team who help with the quizzes themselves,” he said.

For Mike’s final quiz funds raised will be donated to Next Steps Mental Health Resource Centre in Norton and to support his daughter Sophie, a university lecturer, who was infected with the viral brain infection, Japanese encephalitis, in 2015 while on a botanical research trip in south-east China and requires 24-hour care.

Mike, who currently runs Castle News in Malton, said he was looking forward to retiring and spending more time on his other hobbies, including cooking.

“I may well find a quiz to take part in when we move, but I don’t plan on,” he said. “It has been a challenge as I hand pick each question and, of course, I never reveal my sources.”