ROUND 1

1.

Who was the virtual ruler of England during the latter years of Edward Ill's reign and during Richard II's minority?

2.

Which Roman Emperor (180 -192AD) was the son of Marcus Aurelius?  He has been portrayed (with much historical inaccuracy) by both Christopher Plummer (in The Fall of The Roman Empire) and Joaquin Phoenix (in Gladiator).

3.

This actor, born on Christmas Day in 1899, featured in 75 movies, winning a Best Actor Oscar in 1951.  Along with his fourth wife (who is still alive) he was a founding member of the original 1950s Rat Pack.  Who was he?

4.

This juggler, comedian and actor, who died on Christmas Day in 1946 is often characterised as a misanthrope who hated children, dogs and women (unless they were the wrong sort of women).  Who was he?

5.

In the Commons, members of which organisation are entitled to the prefix `The Right Honourable'?

6.

Which WWI battle accounted for 50,000 British Empire deaths, including Rudyard Kipling's son John (Jack) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon's brother Fergus?  The battle took place in September 1915 and was the first in which the British used gas.

7.

The composer Antonin Dvorak wrote two sets of pieces in 1878 and 1886 which established his reputation.  Like much of his music they were originally written for piano and only later orchestrated.  It is the latter versions that still have their place in the classical repertoire.  How are these 16 pieces better known?

8.

The mythological North American humanoid `Bigfoot' is also known by what name?

ROUND 2

1.

Who wrote the Chichester Psalms in 1965?

2.

Who wrote A London Symphony in 1914 (which he revised several times)?

3.

A 1974 song contains the lyric “in Birmingham they love the governor, (boo!, boo! boo!)".  Name either the title or the group.

4.

Which 1967 hippie counter-culture rock musical, later made into a film by Milos Forman, contains the song Manchester, England?

5.

Bill Gates bought the Codex Leicester for $30.8 million in 1994 making it (still) the most expensive purchase of its kind.  What is it?

6.

English monarchs were well known for founding Oxford and Cambridge colleges.  However, which Oxford college was founded in the 13th century by the father of a Scottish king ?

7.

Which football team play at the London Road Stadium?

8.

The Warwick Road End at Old Trafford (along with the Warwick Road itself) has been renamed.  What is it now called?

ROUND 3

1.

Which former Chelsea foreign player (1995-1998) resigned earlier this year as trainer of the LA Galaxy football team?

2.

An architectural feature consisting of a garth surrounded by four walks, is reputed to have been introduced by Edward the Confessor to England when he employed Norman architects for building work.  What is it called?

3.

Which famous literary figure was Sir John Betjeman's English teacher at his school in Highgate in 1916?

4.

Which anarchist slogan first appeared in a book by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon published in 1840?

5.

Which striking grade 1 listed building on Oxford Road was designed by J A Hansom (otherwise famous for introducing the Hansom cab)?

6.

Where in West London is the recently opened Westfield shopping centre?

7.

What was the name of the inquiry into the intelligence the British government received about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction?

8.

Which notorious Polish-born figure had both Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice Davies as mistresses? When he died in 1962 the first thing Mandy Rice Davies reputedly said on hearing the news was "did he leave a will”?

ROUND 4

1.

How did the name Francois Delaroziere creep into our consciousness this summer in a much-publicised event?

2.

What is the name of the secret society of Cambridge undergraduates founded in 1820 which originally drew its members from St John's, Kings and Trinity Colleges?  Famous and infamous members of the society include John Maynard Keynes, Lytton Strachey and Anthony Blunt.  Former members of the society are called Angels.

3.

What was the name of the twice-weekly ITV series, set in the town of Oxbridge, that ran between 1957 and 1967 and in 1964 displayed the first interracial kiss on British television (between a surgeon and a doctor)?         

4.

What is the name of the village in Warwickshire that claims to be the geographical centre of England with a centuries-old monument on the village green stating the fact?  The village is also home to a memorial for all the cyclists that died in the World Wars.

5.

Which 20th century US President popularised the phrase 'the silent majority'?

6.

The capital of the Hittite kingdom was Hattusa.  In which modern day country do the ruins of this city lie?

7.

What links President Roosevelt's name for Camp David, a location in a novel by James Hilton and the New York girl group disbanded in 1968, comprising Mary and Betty Weiss, and Marguerite and Mary Ann Ganser?

8.

Although the Ways and Means committee was abolished in 1967 the chairman and deputy chairmen of this committee still play an important role in Parliament.  What is it?

ROUND 5

1.

Burmese, Reticulated and Ant Hill are types of which creature?

2.

What is the name of Enya's latest album?

3.

What is the name of the first bridge which crosses the Thames as you go upstream?

4.

In culinary terms, what is a panade?

5.

In culinary terms, Aurore, Bercy, Bonnefoy, and Ravigote are all types of what sauce?

6.

What is the name of the first bridge which crosses the Tyne as you go upstream?

7.

Trans-Europe Express is a 1977 album by which German band?

8.

South African, Reticulated and Thornicroft are all types of which mammal?

ROUND 6

1.

Which British physicist was awarded a Nobel prize in 1948 for work in cosmic radiation and his perfection of the Wilson cloud chamber?

2.

In early 1971, Ulrike Meinhof produced a manifesto entitled The Concept of the Urban Guerrilla.  Its cover had a logo comprising a star over a rifle and the letters `RAF'.  For what did these letters stand?

3.

What name connects 2 types of butterfly (Pale and Berger's), a beer brewed in St Austell, and a novel by Janet Green which was made into a 1951 film starring Jean Simmons, Trevor Howard and Barry Jones?

4.

Born in Medillin, SW Spain in 1485 and died in 1547, this Spanish explorer sailed for the island of Hispaniola aged 18.  He was the Spanish Conquistador who defeated and conquered the Aztec Empire.  Subsequently he erected Mexico City on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan (which he overwhelmed in 1521), became governor of New Spain in 1523 and then discovered the Baja California peninsula in 1536.  His ship and most of his fortune were lost during an unsuccessful expedition to Algiers in 1541.   Who was he?

5.

For which football team did Ronnie Simpson sign in 1964, keeping goal for almost 200 games?

6.

The book of One Thousand and One Nights acquired which English title when translated during the 18th century?

7.

In which British National Park would you be if you scaled Corby Pike, Dough Crag, Shillhope Law, The Beacon, and Yeavering Bell (amongst many other hills)?

8.

What word was coined to describe the European imitation of Asian lacquer work?

ROUND 7

1.

Which 5th century Greek Statesman and General ordered the construction of the Parthenon?

2.

As what is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone better known?

3.

Bosworth and Trafalgar are varieties of which vegetable?

4.

Which chain of shops was founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Siegl Zev?

5.

Mel Blanc was the voice behind Bugs Bunny and many other Warner Brothers cartoon characters. What appropriate phrase appears on his gravestone?

6.

Who did Cate Blanchett portray in the film The Aviator?

7.

The cricketer David Lloyd's nickname is the same as the name of a Dickens character.  What is it?

8.

Jamaica is divided into three counties which all have the same names as English counties.  Name one of them.

ROUND 8

1.

Which British television producer coined the phrase ‘Supermarionation’?

2.

Which of the United States has an official name that ends with the words 'and Providence Plantations'?

3.

Which Shipping Forecast Area used by the BBC is named after the founder of the Meteorological Office?

4.

Which 2001 film, nominated for 5 Oscars, was set in a small village in the Dordogne?

5.

What was the only number one hit for The Move?

6.

What is the name of the memorial to John Lennon in Central Park, New York?

7.

Which group recorded the album Now That's What I Call Quite Good?

8.

Which singer had a hit with Every Day is the Winding Road?

Spares

1.

Abdullah al-Badri is secretary-general of which organization?

2.

The Joseon Dynasty, was which Asian country's final ruling dynasty?

3.

Which Ray Bradbury novel centres on the 'fireman' Guy Montag?

4.

The condition medial epicondylitis has what sporting nickname?

5.

Who became the 27th President of the USA in 1909?

6.

What is the nickname of Burnley FC?

ROUND 1

1.

Who was the virtual ruler of England during the latter years of Edward Ill's reign and during Richard II's minority?

John of Gaunt

2.

Which Roman Emperor (180 -192AD) was the son of Marcus Aurelius?  He has been portrayed (with much historical inaccuracy) by both Christopher Plummer (in The Fall of The Roman Empire) and Joaquin Phoenix (in Gladiator).

Commodus

3.

This actor, born on Christmas Day in 1899, featured in 75 movies, winning a Best Actor Oscar in 1951.  Along with his fourth wife (who is still alive) he was a founding member of the original 1950s Rat Pack.  Who was he?

Humphrey Bogart

4.

This juggler, comedian and actor, who died on Christmas Day in 1946 is often characterised as a misanthrope who hated children, dogs and women (unless they were the wrong sort of women).  Who was he?

W C Fields

5.

In the Commons, members of which organisation are entitled to the prefix `The Right Honourable'?

The Privy Council

6.

Which WWI battle accounted for 50,000 British Empire deaths, including Rudyard Kipling's son John (Jack) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon's brother Fergus?  The battle took place in September 1915 and was the first in which the British used gas.

Battle of Loos

7.

The composer Antonin Dvorak wrote two sets of pieces in 1878 and 1886 which established his reputation.  Like much of his music they were originally written for piano and only later orchestrated.  It is the latter versions that still have their place in the classical repertoire.  How are these 16 pieces better known?

Slavonic Dances

8.

The mythological North American humanoid `Bigfoot' is also known by what name?

Sasquatch

ROUND 2

1.

Who wrote the Chichester Psalms in 1965?

Leonard Bernstein

2.

Who wrote A London Symphony in 1914 (which he revised several times)?

Ralph Vaughan

Williams

3.

A 1974 song contains the lyric “in Birmingham they love the governor, (boo!, boo! boo!)".  Name either the title or the group.

(either)

Sweet Home Alabama

(or)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

4.

Which 1967 hippie counter-culture rock musical, later made into a film by Milos Forman, contains the song Manchester, England?

Hair

5.

Bill Gates bought the Codex Leicester for $30.8 million in 1994 making it (still) the most expensive purchase of its kind.  What is it?

A book containing a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's scientific writings

6.

English monarchs were well known for founding Oxford and Cambridge colleges.  However, which Oxford college was founded in the 13th century by the father of a Scottish king ?

Balliol

7.

Which football team play at the London Road Stadium?

Peterborough United

8.

The Warwick Road End at Old Trafford (along with the Warwick Road itself) has been renamed.  What is it now called?

The Brian Statham End

(and Brian Statham Way)

ROUND 3

1.

Which former Chelsea foreign player (1995-1998) resigned earlier this year as trainer of the LA Galaxy football team?

Ruud Gullit

2.

An architectural feature consisting of a garth surrounded by four walks, is reputed to have been introduced by Edward the Confessor to England when he employed Norman architects for building work.  What is it called?

Cloisters

3.

Which famous literary figure was Sir John Betjeman's English teacher at his school in Highgate in 1916?

T S Eliot

4.

Which anarchist slogan first appeared in a book by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon published in 1840?

'Properly is theft'

5.

Which striking grade 1 listed building on Oxford Road was designed by J A Hansom (otherwise famous for introducing the Hansom cab)?

The Holy Name Church

6.

Where in West London is the recently opened Westfield shopping centre?

Shepherd's Bush

7.

What was the name of the inquiry into the intelligence the British government received about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction?

The Butler inquiry

8.

Which notorious Polish-born figure had both Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice Davies as mistresses? When he died in 1962 the first thing Mandy Rice Davies reputedly said on hearing the news was "did he leave a will”?

(Peter) Rachman

ROUND 4

1.

How did the name Francois Delaroziere creep into our consciousness this summer in a much-publicised event?

He created the giant spider for Liverpool

2.

What is the name of the secret society of Cambridge undergraduates founded in 1820 which originally drew its members from St John's, Kings and Trinity Colleges?  Famous and infamous members of the society include John Maynard Keynes, Lytton Strachey and Anthony Blunt.  Former members of the society are called Angels.

The Apostles

(or the Conversazione Society)

3.

What was the name of the twice-weekly ITV series, set in the town of Oxbridge, that ran between 1957 and 1967 and in 1964 displayed the first interracial kiss on British television (between a surgeon and a doctor)?         

Emergency Ward 10

4.

What is the name of the village in Warwickshire that claims to be the geographical centre of England with a centuries-old monument on the village green stating the fact?  The village is also home to a memorial for all the cyclists that died in the World Wars.

Meriden

5.

Which 20th century US President popularised the phrase 'the silent majority'?

Richard Nixon

6.

The capital of the Hittite kingdom was Hattusa.  In which modern day country do the ruins of this city lie?

Turkey

7.

What links President Roosevelt's name for Camp David, a location in a novel by James Hilton and the New York girl group disbanded in 1968, comprising Mary and Betty Weiss, and Marguerite and Mary Ann Ganser?

Shangri-La

8.

Although the Ways and Means committee was abolished in 1967 the chairman and deputy chairmen of this committee still play an important role in Parliament.  What is it?

They are the deputy speakers

ROUND 5

1

Burmese, Reticulated and Ant Hill are types of which creature?

Python

2.

What is the name of Enya's latest album?

And Winter Came

3.

What is the name of the first bridge which crosses the Thames as you go upstream?

Queen Elizabeth II Suspension Bridge

(built in 1991 to take the M25 across the Thames)

4.

In culinary terms, what is a panade?

Bread soup

5.

In culinary terms, Aurore, Bercy, Bonnefoy, and Ravigote are all types of what sauce?

Velouté

6.

What is the name of the first bridge which crosses the Tyne as you go upstream?

Queen Elizabeth II Millennium Bridge

(Gateshead - the ‘blinking eye’ bridge)

7.

Trans-Europe Express is a 1977 album by which German band?

Kraftwerk

8.

South African, Reticulated and Thornicroft are all types of which mammal?

Giraffe

ROUND 6

1

Which British physicist was awarded a Nobel prize in 1948 for work in cosmic radiation and his perfection of the Wilson cloud chamber?

Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett

2.

In early 1971, Ulrike Meinhof produced a manifesto entitled The Concept of the Urban Guerrilla.  Its cover had a logo comprising a star over a rifle and the letters `RAF'.  For what did these letters stand?

Red Army Faction

3.

What name connects 2 types of butterfly (Pale and Berger's), a beer brewed in St Austell, and a novel by Janet Green which was made into a 1951 film starring Jean Simmons, Trevor Howard and Barry Jones?

Clouded Yellow

4.

Born in Medillin, SW Spain in 1485 and died in 1547, this Spanish explorer sailed for the island of Hispaniola aged 18.  He was the Spanish Conquistador who defeated and conquered the Aztec Empire.  Subsequently he erected Mexico City on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan (which he overwhelmed in 1521), became governor of New Spain in 1523 and then discovered the Baja California peninsula in 1536.  His ship and most of his fortune were lost during an unsuccessful expedition to Algiers in 1541.   Who was he?

Hernando Cortez

5.

For which football team did Ronnie Simpson sign in 1964, keeping goal for almost 200 games?

Celtic FC

6.

The book of One Thousand and One Nights acquired which English title when translated during the 18th century?

The Arabian Nights Entertainments

7.

In which British National Park would you be if you scaled Corby Pike, Dough Crag, Shillhope Law, The Beacon, and Yeavering Bell (amongst many other hills)?

Northumberland National Park

8.

What word was coined to describe the European imitation of Asian lacquer work?

Japanning

ROUND 7

1.

Which 5th century Greek Statesman and General ordered the construction of the Parthenon?

Pericles

2.

As what is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone better known?

The Doldrums

3.

Bosworth and Trafalgar are varieties of which vegetable?

Brussel Sprout

4.

Which chain of shops was founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Siegl Zev?

Starbucks

5.

Mel Blanc was the voice behind Bugs Bunny and many other Warner Brothers cartoon characters. What appropriate phrase appears on his gravestone?

'That's all folks'

6.

Who did Cate Blanchett portray in the film The Aviator?

Katherine Hepburn

7.

The cricketer David Lloyd's nickname is the same as the name of a Dickens character.  What is it?

Bumble

(Beadle Bumble in Oliver Twist)

8.

Jamaica is divided into three counties which all have the same names as English counties.  Name one of them.

(one of)

Surrey, Middlesex or Cornwall

ROUND 8

1.

Which British television producer coined the phrase ‘Supermarionation’?

Gerry Anderson

2.

Which of the United States has an official name that ends with the words 'and Providence Plantations'?

Rhode Island

3.

Which Shipping Forecast Area used by the BBC is named after the founder of the Meteorological Office?

Fitzroy

4.

Which 2001 film, nominated for 5 Oscars, was set in a small village in the Dordogne?

Chocolat

5.

What was the only number one hit for The Move?

Blackberry Way

6.

What is the name of the memorial to John Lennon in Central Park, New York?

Strawberry Fields

7.

Which group recorded the album Now That's What I Call Quite Good?

Housemartins

8.

Which singer had a hit with Every Day is the Winding Road?

Sheryl Crow

1.

Abdullah al-Badri is secretary-general of which organization?

OPEC

2.

The Joseon Dynasty, was which Asian country's final ruling dynasty?

Korea

3.

Which Ray Bradbury novel centres on the 'fireman' Guy Montag?

Fahrenheit 451

4.

The condition medial epicondylitis has what sporting nickname?

Golfer's elbow

5.

Who became the 27th President of the USA in 1909?

William Howard Taft

6.

What is the nickname of Burnley FC?

The Clarets

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