Finance sector out in force as French Duncan pub quiz raises thousands

Glasgow- headquartered accountancy firm French Duncan has raised more than £3,300 for a local charity through its annual charity pub quiz attended by more than 180 people from companies across the city, including Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Scotland and MacRoberts.

A team from corporate and personal insolvency services firm WRI Associates took the honours on the night and the haul takes FD’s fundraising total for the charity this year to up to over £8,000.

The Finnieston-based firm held the event at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow city centre with all proceeds raised donated to Brightest Star.

The charity was set up by Renfrew mum Arlene Smith, whose son, Jack Kennedy, died in December 2012 just days before his sixth birthday after a virus stopped his heart and the charity now campaigns to raise awareness and funds to help other people save children’s lives and to support bereaved families.

French Duncan, which has more than 200 staff and five offices across Scotland - in Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, Dumbarton and Hamilton - selected Brightest Star as its charity fundraising partner for 2016.

Throughout the year, French Duncan staff have taken part in a variety of fundraising activities for the charity including charity runs, bake sales and raffles.

In April, 17 staff took part in the Kiltwalk which saw the organisation raise close to £2,000 for Brightest Star. Other events scheduled for this year include a summer barbeque and a Halloween party.

One of the other winners on the night was Bank of Scotland employee Donal Church from Bishopton.

Donal took part in the evening’s raffle and won two tickets to see Rod Stewart perform at the Hydro – tickets were donated by Clydesdale Bank.

Graeme Finnie, managing partner at French Duncan, said: “Our annual charity pub quiz is always well attended and this year was our biggest and best event yet. Brightest Star is a fantastic and incredibly worthy cause, and Arlene works incredibly hard to raise awareness of her cause in order to help other parents who are suffering from the loss of a child. It is a privilege to have Brightest Star as French Duncan’s charity partner this year, and we are hopeful of raising more than £10,000 by the end of the year.”