General Knowledge Quiz

[MotCO]

And, according to the score card, only one Pakistan Railways player scored any 4's, and no one scored any 6's! There must have been a lot of running between the wickets.

 

[444045]

Thank you

Which tv series lasted for 16 years - had 801 episodes and spawned two spin offs ?

 

[John Griffiths]

Was it Z Cars? I remember there was a spin off called Barlow at Large, and another one, I think, with Barlow and Watts.

 

[444045]

You are spot on sir - that didn't last as long it took to type it

The two spin offs were Softly Softly Task Force and Barlow at Large

Z Victor 1 signing off and handing the floor to you

 

[John Griffiths]

Thank you - that was a lucky punt; I had been thinking Crossroads, but couldn't' remember any spin offs from that.

Where was 'Silkingrad',and why?

 

[xotGD]

Thank you - that was a lucky punt; I had been thinking Crossroads, but couldn't' remember any spin offs from that.

Where was 'Silkingrad',and why?

I'm assuming that it must be somewhere on the Silk Road from China to Europe where a lot of trade was conducted.

Let's try Tashkent.

 

[John Griffiths]

Rather less exotic than that, I'm afraid, and in England.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Rather less exotic than that, I'm afraid, and in England.

Ah, a geography A level question!

So, the post war Abercrombie Plan led to the designation of a series of new towns under the New Towns Act of (I think) 1946, and the first of these was Stevenage

The natives weren’t pleased with this, and when the Minister (for housing or local government, town planning or whatever) visited Stevenage he was greeted by signs that had been altered from Stevenage to Silkingrad, as he was a Mr Silkin and presumably the locals lampooned him as a minister in Attlee’s Labour government but likening then to a commie setup

 

[John Griffiths]

Well done, Steve, all I can add to that is that the minister (for Town and Country Planning iirc) was Lewis Silkin, and the locals poured sugar into the petrol tank of the ministerial limo.

Your floor.

 

[SuspectUsual]

In UK politics, who or what links Appleby with Cambridge University?

 

[martinsh]

Did Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister) not go to Cambridge University ?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Did Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister) not go to Cambridge University ?

I’ve no idea, although he strikes me as the Oxford type. And I like your lateral thinking too, but this is Appleby the place, not Appleby a person

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It was Oxford.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Is this something to do with one of our Prime Ministers - William Pitt?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Is this something to do with one of our Prime Ministers - William Pitt?

Do continue.....

 

[444045]

Glad I did History O level now -

Wasn't it that William Pitt the younger was mP for Appleby but gave it up for a place at Cambridge University ?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Glad I did History O level now -

Wasn't it that William Pitt the younger was mP for Appleby but gave it up for a place at Cambridge University ?

I agree but you should have the time at the dispatch box. But I think that he actually stood as MP for Cambridge university which is very rare as having its own constituency at one time.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I agree but you should have the time at the dispatch box. But I think that he actually stood as MP for Cambridge university which is very rare as having its own constituency at one time.

......is the correct answer. He represented the constituencies of Appleby and then Cambridge University in his periods as prime minister

The dispatch box is yours

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I think it appropriate we stay on the theme of MPs and constituencies. In the 1979 general election there was a constituency that was won by a ridiculously thin margin. The incumbent ( Labour) had the same surname as the winner(Conservative). Both are still alive. 1) Constituency 2) Surname and the Brucie bonus what distinction does the Labour guy have?

 

[444045]

Only one I can vaguely recall was Preston North with about a 30 margin - can't think of his name though

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Only one I can vaguely recall was Preston North with about a 30 margin - can't think of his name though

Correct. I was in the neighbouring constituency of South Fylde. Margin was 29. Can we get the name. And the brucie?

 

[444045]

The names Atkins and Flint have come to the memory - whether there right or not ?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The names Atkins and Flint have come to the memory - whether there right or not ?

Atkins is correct. The Brucie bonus - both are still alive AND Ronald Atkins the defeated incumbent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Atkins and He is both the longest-lived and oldest currently surviving former MP in the UK.

The dispatch box is yours.

 

[444045]

Thank you

Peter Hazell - Thomas Tripp - Roger Varley and Jonathan Bell appear in which tv programme ?

 

[SuspectUsual]

There was a Mr Tripp in Trumpton. I think he was the milkman. No idea on the others though

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Or possibly Camberwick Green from the same authors?

 

[444045]

Or possibly Camberwick Green from the same authors?

You are correct - they are all characters in Camberwick Green - Peter Hazell was the Postman -

Thomas Tripp was the milkman who also appeared in Trumpton - Jonathan Bell was Farmer Jonathan Bell

the floor is yours

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Can’t think of a good one. Open floor

 

[Calthrop]

The following, are generally considered the greatest / "defining" / most beloved works of literature, of their respective European countries. (Two shown here in their English forms, to avoid "dead giveaways"; the third is untranslatable.)


Master Thaddeus

The Kalevala

The Lusiads


Which are the respective countries concerned? (Correct country for each, is all that is asked for; any extra info -- the authors, or whatever -- welcome, but "just for fun".)

 

[xotGD]

Greece

Spain

Portugal