FORTHCOMING BRIGG 'VIRTUAL' QUIZ REMINDS US OF PAST QUIZZES HELD IN THE TOWN

People continue to sign up for Town Mayor Coun Sharon Riggall's forthcoming Big Virtual Brigg Quiz - the first to be hosted by a local 'first citizen' via the worldwide web. However, there's still time to enter if you haven't already put your name down for the event. And it's in a good cause - raising money for a worthy local charity. Details appear below...
The first regular quizzes we can recall being held locally were at Glanford Leisure Centre in the early 1980s, following the appointment of Terry Bates as the borough council's first leisure services officer.
Terry brought wide experience to this post, having been involved behind the scenes at a Football League club. He was also a highly qualified cricket coach, going on to manage the Lincolnshire Minor Counties team for some years after leaving the Glanford authority.
He organised quizzes in the bar at our local leisure centre; we think the accent might have been on sport.
Quizzes later became a feature at some Brigg pubs - usually being held on weekdays to attract custom.
Sir John Nelthorpe School teachers John Alcock and Adrian Gibbons organised a popular and long-running series at the Britannia, on Wrawby Street, which included picture rounds.
Some Brigg hostelries still had teams in local quiz leagues until the Coronavirus emergency brought its restrictions.
We seem to recall that Brigg Amateur Social Historians (BASH) have also hosted some quizzes, from time to time, as did the cricket club at the Ancholme Inn, on Grammar School Road (since demolished).
In recent years, periodic ones have taken place at St John's Church Hall, on Bigby Street, with a fish and chip supper included for the entrants.
With lockdown still here, perhaps the Town Mayor's 'virtual' quiz will point the way for others to organise quizzes.
Those who lament the loss of the customary 'drinks breaks' between rounds while taking part on laptops at home can always buy a few bottles or cans for home consumption!
Mentioning Terry Bates reminds us that he featured in the first photograph we ever took for the Scunthorpe Telegraph.
As a new initiative, travelling reporters were given small cameras (film, not digital) to use when covering events without a staff photographer being present.
We were covering a Lincolnshire cricket match at Bourne when coach Terry had to take to the field for some reason and we photographed him leaving the pavilion at far-off Bourne. The sports editor decided to use our picture, which duly appeared in the Saturday Sports Telegraph.

SIGN UP FOR THE MAYOR'S QUIZ
The Town Mayor, pictured above, says: "As with many things over the past year, my fundraising events for my chosen charity, Brigg & District Breast Cancer Support Group, have had to be cancelled. So I have decided to "go virtual" on Zoom and am inviting you to take part in my BIG VIRTUAL BRIGG QUIZ.
"So dust off those thinking caps and join me on Friday 5th March, for a 8pm start. Prize for the winning team."
To take part, contact the Town Clerk by email - enquiries@briggmarkettown.co.uk