1.

In which EU country is the town of Schengen where the Schengen Agreement on border controls was signed in 1985?

2.

The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 in the USA bought land which was to become part of two future states.  Name either.

3.

Who was the author of the 1956 children’s classic novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians and its sequel The Starlight Barking?

4.

Who said: “When I hear of Cool Britannia I think of old people dying of hypothermia”?

5.

How many theses did Martin Luther nail to the door of Wittenberg castle church on 31st October 1517?

6.

Music and film writer Andrew Collins’ first volume of autobiography about his happy childhood in the 1970s is entitled Where Did It All Go Right?.  It is sub-titled They tuck you up, your mum and dad.  This is a parody of a famous line by which poet?

7.

What is the nickname of the two times BDO world champion darts player Ted Hankey?

8.

By what name is the entertainer Stefani Germanotta better known?

1.

Now a successful solo artist Gwen Stefani is also lead singer of which rock band?

2.

What is the nickname of the two times BDO world champion darts player Martin Adams?

3.

Music and film writer Andrew Collins’ second volume of autobiography about his impoverished days as an art student in the 1980s is entitled Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now. This is a title of a song by which group?

4.

How many Articles of Religion were established in 1563 as the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine?

5.

When he overheard someone say that Herbert Morrison was his own worst enemy which Cabinet colleague said: “Not while I’m alive he ain’t”?

6.

Who was the author of the children’s classic novel series Mary Poppins?

7.

Famous for its battle site the Big Horn Mountains cross two states.  Name either.

8.

Three non-EU countries are also part of the Schengen agreement.  Norway and Switzerland are two but which is the third?

1.

What nickname is applied to Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 4 in A Major Opus 90?

2.

Who played Mr Harman in the long-running sit-com Are You Being Served??

3.

Which dangerous creature of the Cnidaria phylum has the scientific name Physalia physalis?

4.

Which was the first film with an R rating to win the Academy Award for Best Movie?

5.

Whose novels include the works Filth, Glue, Porno and Crime?

6.

Which Pakistani spin bowler, who has taken 250 wickets in 57 Tests to date, has played several seasons for Essex, and is a devout Hindu?

7.

Which poem ends with the lines:

"’Beauty is truth, truth beauty’ - that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”?

8.

Which Top 10 song of 1980 contains the lines:

“I've got your picture, I've got your picture,

I'd like a million of you all to myself,

I want a doctor to take your picture,

So I can look at you from inside as well"?

1.

Pictured with the Queen in the music room at Buckingham Palace in May 2009 what do these men and women have in common?

2.

Pictured having lunch at Wilton’s Restaurant, St James’s in 2009 at the largest such gathering since the Coronation, what do these 10 men have in common with 14 others who did not attend on this occasion?

3.

What are these adolescent boys up to?

4.

Pictured here with her son Dylan in 2008, and now living in Oklahoma, who is this former East European Olympian?

5.

What is the forename of the paralysed girl in this iconic 1948 work by Andrew Wyeth which hangs in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City?

6.

What is the surname of the squire and his new bride in this painting of 1750 by Thomas Gainsborough which hangs in the National Gallery, London?

7.

He died in 2009, one of the last survivors of the International Brigade of the Spanish Civil War, but best remembered for his post-war public life.  Who was he?

8.

According to Bernard Manning this trade unionist described his negotiation style with management thus: “Grab them by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow”.  Who was he?

1.

Under what pen name does author Iain Banks write his science fiction novels?

2.

In August 1961 Michael Gregsten was shot dead, and his companion Valerie Storie left for dead, in their car in a lay-by off the road between Luton and Bedford.  Who was convicted of the murder?

3.

Now more commonly used as a term of abuse what name was formerly the medical term given to people with growth failure and learning difficulties due to congenital deficiency of the thyroid gland?

4.

According to the Book of Matthew, Chapter 10 v16, Jesus tells his disciples to be as innocent as doves and as wise as which animals?

5.

In Greek mythology what animal was the offspring of the sexual union of Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa?

6.

Three woman tennis players have won a ‘boxed set’ of Grand Slam Championships - that is they have won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at all four tournaments (Wimbledon, Australian, French and US Championships). Martina Navratilova is one.  Name either of the other two.

7.

Name any three of the four sons of Shameless character Monica Gallagher.

8.

Which actor played the fictional Senator Jefferson Smith in the 1939 film Mr Smith Goes to Washington?

1.

Who played real-life Democratic Congressman Charlie Wilson in the 2007 film Charlie Wilson’s War?

2.

Name any three of the six sons of Shameless character Mimi Maguire.

3.

Only 5 golfers have won a career modern Grand Slam - that is the Open, the US Open, the Masters and the US PGA tournaments at least once.  Tiger Woods is one.  Name two of the other four

4.

In Norse mythology Heimdall, the guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifrost between Earth and Asgard, was the son of how many mothers?

5.

According to King Lear, Act 1 Scene 4, what is sharper than a serpent’s tooth?

6.

In the days when degrees of learning difficulty were medically classified by terms that would now be regarded as pejorative what term was applied to someone who was more intelligent than an idiot but not as clever as a moron?

7.

In August 1963 the Royal Mail train was stopped between Leighton Buzzard and Cheddington and £2.3 million in used bank notes stolen.  What was the name of the gang’s hideout in the immediate aftermath?

8.

Under what pen name does author Ruth Rendell write her psychological thriller novels?

ROUND 7 - ‘Chopinsticks’

Chopin was born 200 years ago this year so this round is dedicated to the piano

1.

Who won the Academy Award for Best Actor awarded in 2003 (at 29 the youngest to have won) for his performance in the film The Pianist?

2.

Who won the Academy Award for best Supporting Actress awarded in 1994 (at 11 the second youngest to have won) for her performance in the film The Piano?

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Which pianist famously explained his poor playing of Grieg’s Piano Concerto thus: “I am playing all the right notes - but not necessarily in the right order”?

8.

The Face to Face concert tours held intermittently since 1994 are sometimes billed Piano Man meets Rocket Man.   Name the two performers both of whom are notable pianists.

ROUND 8 - Pot Luck Bingo

Pick a number between 1 and 10

1.

Why did the US Figure Skating team not turn up to the 1961 World Ice Skating Championships due to be held in Prague, a situation that led to the last minute cancellation of the competition?

2.

Rosanna Diane Davison, who was Miss World in 2003, is the daughter of which well-known musician?

3.

What is the minimum number of given numbers needed at the start of a standard Sudoku grid to ensure there is a unique solution? (allow +/- 1)

4.

Which team won the 1973 Five Nations rugby union championship?

5.

The phrase “to be Bangalored” has recently entered the language.  What does it mean?

6.

Where would you recently have seen the Weasel Workers attending to the Toilet Bowl?

7.

Name either of the lyricists for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.

8.

Who is the latest man to have topped the list of billionaires?

9.

Who has recently become the first cricketer to score centuries in one day internationals for two different countries?

10.

Who was the founder of the River Café who died last month aged 71?

1.

Who portrayed environmental activist Erin Brockavich in the 2000 film of the same name?

2.

Who played nuclear safety campaigner Karen Silkwood in the 1983 film Silkwood?

3.

Who was the only British medal winner at the Vancouver Winter Olympics?

4.

Which fictional detective made his first appearance in the 1964 novel From Doon with Death?

5.

Which fictional detective made his first appearance in the 1962 novel Cover Her Face?

6.

Which former Prime Minister was the first (and last) Earl of Beaconsfield?

7.

Mykola Azarov is the new Prime Minister of which country?

8.

Which planet has a moon called Enceladus?

9.

What is the nickname of Mendelssohn’s Third Symphony?

10.

How many of this year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix races are being held in Asia?

1.

In which EU country is the town of Schengen where the Schengen Agreement on border controls was signed in 1985?

Luxembourg

2.

The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 in the USA bought land which was to become part of two future states.  Name either.

Arizona or New Mexico

3.

Who was the author of the 1956 children’s classic novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians and its sequel The Starlight Barking?

Dodie Smith

4.

Who said: “When I hear of Cool Britannia I think of old people dying of hypothermia”?

Tony Benn

5.

How many theses did Martin Luther nail to the door of Wittenberg castle church on 31st October 1517?

95

6.

Music and film writer Andrew Collins’ first volume of autobiography about his happy childhood in the 1970s is entitled Where Did It All Go Right?.  It is sub-titled They tuck you up, your mum and dad.  This is a parody of a famous line by which poet?

Philip Larkin

7.

What is the nickname of the two times BDO world champion darts player Ted Hankey?

The Count

8.

By what name is the entertainer Stefani Germanotta better known?

Lady Gaga

1.

Now a successful solo artist Gwen Stefani is also lead singer of which rock band?

No Doubt

2.

What is the nickname of the two times BDO world champion darts player Martin Adams?

Wolfie

3.

Music and film writer Andrew Collins’ second volume of autobiography about his impoverished days as an art student in the 1980s is entitled Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now. This is a title of a song by which group?

The Smiths

4.

How many Articles of Religion were established in 1563 as the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine?

39

5.

When he overheard someone say that Herbert Morrison was his own worst enemy which Cabinet colleague said: “Not while I’m alive he ain’t”?

Ernest Bevin

6.

Who was the author of the children’s classic novel series Mary Poppins?

P L Travers

7.

Famous for its battle site the Big Horn Mountains cross two states.  Name either.

Montana or Wyoming

8.

Three non-EU countries are also part of the Schengen agreement.  Norway and Switzerland are two but which is the third?

Iceland

1.

What nickname is applied to Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 4 in A Major Opus 90?

The Italian

2.

Who played Mr Harman in the long-running sit-com Are You Being Served??

Arthur English

3.

Which dangerous creature of the Cnidaria phylum has the scientific name Physalia physalis?

Portuguese Man o’ War

4.

Which was the first film with an R rating to win the Academy Award for Best Movie?

The French Connection

5.

Whose novels include the works Filth, Glue, Porno and Crime?

Irvine Welsh

6.

Which Pakistani spin bowler, who has taken 250 wickets in 57 Tests to date, has played several seasons for Essex, and is a devout Hindu?

Danish Kaneria

7.

Which poem ends with the lines:

"’Beauty is truth, truth beauty’ - that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”?

Ode to a Grecian Urn

8.

Which Top 10 song of 1980 contains the lines:

“I've got your picture, I've got your picture,

I'd like a million of you all to myself,

I want a doctor to take your picture,

So I can look at you from inside as well"?

Turning Japanese

1.

Pictured with the Queen in the music room at Buckingham Palace in May 2009 what do these men and women have in common?

They are the current holders of the Order of Merit (OM)

2.

Pictured having lunch at Wilton’s Restaurant, St James’s in 2009 at the largest such gathering since the Coronation, what do these 10 men have in common with 14 others who did not attend on this occasion?

They are all Dukes

3.

What are these adolescent boys up to?

They are playing the Eton Wall game

4.

Pictured here with her son Dylan in 2008, and now living in Oklahoma, who is this former East European Olympian?

Nadia Comaneci

5.

What is the forename of the paralysed girl in this iconic 1948 work by Andrew Wyeth which hangs in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City?

Christina

(Olson - the picture is Christina’s World)

6.

What is the surname of the squire and his new bride in this painting of 1750 by Thomas Gainsborough which hangs in the National Gallery, London?

Andrews

(Robert and Frances - the picture is called Mr and Mrs Andrews)

7.

He died in 2009, one of the last survivors of the International Brigade of the Spanish Civil War, but best remembered for his post-war public life.  Who was he?

Jack Jones

8.

According to Bernard Manning this trade unionist described his negotiation style with management thus: “Grab them by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow”.  Who was he?

Joe Gormley

1.

Under what pen name does author Iain Banks write his science fiction novels?

Iain M Banks

2.

In August 1961 Michael Gregsten was shot dead, and his companion Valerie Storie left for dead, in their car in a lay-by off the road between Luton and Bedford.  Who was convicted of the murder?

James Hanratty

3.

Now more commonly used as a term of abuse what name was formerly the medical term given to people with growth failure and learning difficulties due to congenital deficiency of the thyroid gland?

Cretin

4.

According to the Book of Matthew, Chapter 10 v16, Jesus tells his disciples to be as innocent as doves and as wise as which animals?

Serpents

5.

In Greek mythology what animal was the offspring of the sexual union of Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa?

Pegasus

(also accept his twin Chrysaor said to be a winged boar)

6.

Three woman tennis players have won a ‘boxed set’ of Grand Slam Championships - that is they have won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at all four tournaments (Wimbledon, Australian, French and US Championships). Martina Navratilova is one.  Name either of the other two.

Maureen (Mo) Connolly or Margaret (Smith) Court

7.

Name any three of the four sons of Shameless character Monica Gallagher.

(3 from) Philip (Lip),  Ian, Carl and Liam

8.

Which actor played the fictional Senator Jefferson Smith in the 1939 film Mr Smith Goes to Washington?

James Stewart

1.

Who played real-life Democratic Congressman Charlie Wilson in the 2007 film Charlie Wilson’s War?

Tom Hanks

2.

Name any three of the six sons of Shameless character Mimi Maguire.

(3 from) Jamie, Shane, Mickey, Donny, Joey and Fergal

3.

Only 5 golfers have won a career modern Grand Slam - that is the Open, the US Open, the Masters and the US PGA tournaments at least once.  Tiger Woods is one.  Name two of the other four

(2 from) Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus

4.

In Norse mythology Heimdall, the guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifrost between Earth and Asgard, was the son of how many mothers?

Nine

5.

According to King Lear, Act 1 Scene 4, what is sharper than a serpent’s tooth?

“To have a thankless child”

6.

In the days when degrees of learning difficulty were medically classified by terms that would now be regarded as pejorative what term was applied to someone who was more intelligent than an idiot but not as clever as a moron?

Imbecile

7.

In August 1963 the Royal Mail train was stopped between Leighton Buzzard and Cheddington and £2.3 million in used bank notes stolen.  What was the name of the gang’s hideout in the immediate aftermath?

Leatherslade Farm

8.

Under what pen name does author Ruth Rendell write her psychological thriller novels?

Barbara Vine

ROUND 7 - ‘Chopinsticks’

Chopin was born 200 years ago this year so this round is dedicated to the piano

1.

Who won the Academy Award for Best Actor awarded in 2003 (at 29 the youngest to have won) for his performance in the film The Pianist?

Adrien Brody

2.

Who won the Academy Award for best Supporting Actress awarded in 1994 (at 11 the second youngest to have won) for her performance in the film The Piano?

Anna Paquin

3.

Evgeny Kissin

4.

Stephen Hough

5.

Sergei Rachmaninoff

(it’s his 2nd piano concerto)

6.

Edvard Grieg

7.

Which pianist famously explained his poor playing of Grieg’s Piano Concerto thus: “I am playing all the right notes - but not necessarily in the right order”?

Eric Morecambe

8.

The Face to Face concert tours held intermittently since 1994 are sometimes billed Piano Man meets Rocket Man.   Name the two performers both of whom are notable pianists.

Billy Joel and Elton John

ROUND 8 - Pot Luck Bingo

Pick a number between 1 and 10

1.

Why did the US Figure Skating team not turn up to the 1961 World Ice Skating Championships due to be held in Prague, a situation that led to the last minute cancellation of the competition?

They had all been killed in a plane crash en route to Prague

2.

Rosanna Diane Davison, who was Miss World in 2003, is the daughter of which well-known musician?

Chris de Burgh

3.

What is the minimum number of given numbers needed at the start of a standard Sudoku grid to ensure there is a unique solution? (allow +/- 1)

17

(accept 16, 17 or 18)

4.

Which team won the 1973 Five Nations rugby union championship?

All five teams shared, having finished on 4 points each

5.

The phrase “to be Bangalored” has recently entered the language.  What does it mean?

To lose one’s job as a result of out-sourcing

6.

Where would you recently have seen the Weasel Workers attending to the Toilet Bowl?

At the Winter Olympics downhill ski-ing

(they were the workers who swept the course clear of ice including the stretch called the toilet bowl)

7.

Name either of the lyricists for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.

Richard Stilgoe or Charles Hart

8.

Who is the latest man to have topped the list of billionaires?

Carlos Slim

9.

Who has recently become the first cricketer to score centuries in one day internationals for two different countries?

Eoin Morgan

(Ireland and England)

10.

Who was the founder of the River Café who died last month aged 71?

Rose Gray

1.

Who portrayed environmental activist Erin Brockavich in the 2000 film of the same name?

Julia Roberts

2.

Who played nuclear safety campaigner Karen Silkwood in the 1983 film Silkwood?

Meryl Streep

3.

Who was the only British medal winner at the Vancouver Winter Olympics?

Amy Williams

4.

Which fictional detective made his first appearance in the 1964 novel From Doon with Death?

Inspector Reg Wexford

5.

Which fictional detective made his first appearance in the 1962 novel Cover Her Face?

Commander Adam Dalgliesh

6.

Which former Prime Minister was the first (and last) Earl of Beaconsfield?

Benjamin Disraeli

7.

Mykola Azarov is the new Prime Minister of which country?

Ukraine

8.

Which planet has a moon called Enceladus?

Saturn

9.

What is the nickname of Mendelssohn’s Third Symphony?

The Scottish

10.

How many of this year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix races are being held in Asia?

8

(Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Turkey)