General Knowledge Quiz

[John Griffiths]

Is the hardman Norman Hunter?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Is the hardman Norman Hunter?

no

 

[xotGD]

Tinkerbell is the only fairy I can name.

So is Colin Bell the footballer?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Tinkering ?

 

[MotCO]

Chopper Harris?

 

[Calthrop]

I understand that swindling small-time showmen -- maybe particularly in America -- were sometimes called "thimble-riggers": the business with three thimbles, and guessing under which of them, was the dried pea (never under the one which the chumps thought). There's a seemingly much-loved member of the bellflower family, called Campanula cochleariifolia or in common parlance, "Fairy's Thimble". About football hardmen -- or football anythings -- from any era, I fear I know nothing whatever.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Ron Harris is the only guess so far that’s correct

 

[444045]

Wild Guesses - Fairy Godmother or Fairy Bow bells or Fairy lights ?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Wild Guesses - Fairy Godmother or Fairy Bow bells or Fairy lights ?

No.

start with Ron Harris’ nickname and see where that takes you

 

[MotCO]

Is the small-scale swindling 'chopping', and is a helicopter (aka choppers) also referred to as 'fairies'? Ron Harris was 'Chopper Harris'.

 

[SuspectUsual]

You’re right he was Chopper Harris. The other two aren’t choppers, but they’re things related to a chopper - but laterally, not literally

 

[xotGD]

Chopper = tooth. Therefore, the tooth fairy!

 

[SuspectUsual]

If you asked a lad born in the 70s what a chopper was, what would he say?

 

[Gloster]

If he didn’t give you a rude answer or a smart alec one referring to George Washington, he might mention one of Sir Walter’s finest.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Ok, and from that......?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If you asked a lad born in the 70s what a chopper was, what would he say?

An early version of a Mountain Bike. Our neighbour had one. The small version for tots was called a chipper iirc?

 

[John Griffiths]

There was a Raleigh Grifter iirc - is a grifter a con man?

 

[SuspectUsual]

There was a Raleigh Grifter iirc - is a grifter a con man?

There was, and it is, so that’s two out of three - just the fairy now

 

[xotGD]

I don't recall a fairy called BMX

 

[Calthrop]

Weren't "training bikes" for small kids -- a pair of little wheels either side of the rear wheel -- called "fairy cycles"? (Don't know about "trendy modern-type" pedal bikes.)

 

[John Griffiths]

Did you remember that from the Molesworth books as well?

 

[Calthrop]

I'd forgotten any such reference in the Molesworth books -- my memories were from real life. (Fotherington-Thomas and fairy cycles, would seem to be a natural pairing.)

 

[SuspectUsual]

I think this may have run its course

@Gloster corrrctly made the link to Raleigh bikes, so the yellow jersey is his

Between you, you got a Chopper and a Grifter, but the third one eluded you - the “fairy” was a Sprite (one of which I got as a Xmas present in about 1980)

 

[Gloster]

So, for my first question.

What is the only place in England that was a city in modern times (1945 on), but has lost its city status and not regained it?

And as a bonus, what is the only place in Scotland in the same situation?

 

[Jona26]

It's Rochester. There was a c0ck up during local government re-organisation and it wasn't noticed at the time.

I have no idea of the bonus question.

 

[A Challenge]

I think it's Maidstone?

 

[Gloster]

It's Rochester. There was a c0ck up during local government re-organisation and it wasn't noticed at the time.

I have no idea of the bonus question.

Correct.

I will leave you to think up your question while we see if anybody knows the bonus.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Perth lost city status but regained it so not exactly the same situation

 

[Jona26]

Thanks. I have a question ready to go but will hold off for a while to see if your bonus gets answered.

 

[John Griffiths]

St Andrews, now absorbed into a unitary Kingdom of Fife?