ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

Who has invariably been Paul McCartney's best man?

2.

Which fellow future MP was Kenneth Clarke's best man in 1964?  It is unlikely that hamburgers were on the menu.

3.

After his guards showed reluctance to storm a hill who said (in translation) "Dogs!  Do you want to live forever?"

4.

Who said in 1849 (in translation) "Italy is just a geographical concept"?

5.

Which north west venue has hosted the Formula 1 British Grand Prix 5 times?

6.

Where are Rolls Royce Motor Cars now made?

7.

If you were to find IGT on your Super Toscana, what would it stand for?

8.

If you were to find AOC on your Roquefort, what would it stand for?

1.

Which is the only golf course outside Scotland and England to have hosted the Open Championship?

2.

Which number one song features the lines: ”You think you’re mad, too unstable, kicking in chairs and knocking down tables”?

3.

Which drummer recorded solo under the pseudonym Klark Kent?

4.

Christopher Hamill was the lead singer of a 1980s pop band.  By what name is he better known?

5.

What feature of medieval architecture derives its name from the French word for throat?

6.

In which city is Vondelpark?            

7.

Who was Charles Darwin’s famous grandfather?

8.

According to legend which country connected Cornwall to the Scilly Isles?

1.

On this day in 1795 the 11th US President was born.  He is ranked among the greatest and is known for his successful Mexican War.  Who is he?

2.

On this day in 1865 another US President was born.  This time he is ranked as one of the worst.  Perhaps it's just as well he died in office.  Who is he?

3.

Which artist is responsible for painting the murals in the Great Hall of Manchester Town Hall?

4.

Which architect designed Manchester Art Gallery?

5.

Canterbury stands on which British river?

6.

Winchester stands on which river?

7.

Which British driver recently died following an accident at the Las Vegas Indy 300?

8.

Who was the first British driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1965?

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

Give a year in the life of the poet John Donne.

2.

Give a year in the life of the poet Andrew Marvell.

3.

East Stirlingshire Football Club play their home fixtures in which town?

4.

Clyde Football Club play their home fixtures in which town?

5.

Dennis Brain was a renowned player of which musical instrument?

6.

Mstislav Rostropovich was a renowned player of which musical instrument?

7.

Patrick McLoughlin holds which position in the current parliament?

8.

Michael Moore holds which position in the current government?

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

Who is this man who was awarded an MBE for his services to Childrens TV in 2008?  He is probably best known for ‘Mr Tumble’ and ‘Gigglebiz’ and now has an eponymous show. (first name only required)

2.

Who is this lady who has been an anchor presenter on CBeebies for the last 3 years?  Her disability provoked a rare controversy for the channel as ignorant parents complained she was scaring their kids.  (first name only required)

3.

The chemotherapy drug Taxol, is synthesised from the toxin taxane which is derived from which tree?

4.

Colchicine, a drug used in the treatment of acute gout, was originally synthesised from the corms of which seasonal flower?

5.

Which river is this?

6.

Which river is this?

7.

Who is the new President of Ireland?

8.

What is the name of the Canon Chancellor of St Pauls Cathedral who resigned last week in the context of the Occupy London protests?

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

The Category 'A' Whitemoor prison is built on what was formerly the largest goods marshalling yard in Britain.  Outside which town in Cambridgeshire does the prison stand?

2.

Which Shakespearean character appears disguised as Balthasar?

3.

Who is a co-founder of the campaign for nuclear disarmament who has been imprisoned a number of times for her peace-campaigning and stood unsuccessfully against Jim Callaghan in his Cardiff constituency in 1979?

4.

Which 19th-century novelist wrote about the retired grocer turned foxhunter John Jorrocks, portrayed on television by Jimmy Edwards?

5.

What product is made from pigs' heads and the feet of oxen cut up, boiled and pickled?

6.

Who is the only Scottish footballer to score in three World Cup finals?

7.

What sort of British craftsmen would use a flagging iron, a round shaver, a mallet, a buzz, an adze and a jigger?

8.

What is the alternative name for the grass lucerne grown as an animal feedstuff?

Sp.

Which British group formed in 1958 was originally named the Drifters but had to change after the threat of legal action from the US group of the same name?

ROUND 7 - Pot pourri

1.

It has been mentioned recently that there were six Ministers of Defence during the last Labour administration.  Geoff Hoon was probably the most prominent of them.  Name two of the other five.

2.

Basting, tent, whip, blanket, pad, top, blind are kinds of what? 

3.

What group of mostly alpine, perennial herbs whose name means literally 'stone-breaker' are so called because their roots break up rocks by growing into cracks?

4.

In Roman history how is the year 193 AD known?

5.

Who said: "I would like to live in Manchester, England.  The transition between Manchester and death would be unnoticeable."?

6.

What is the scientific term for the distance 1.0 × 10^-10 metres?

7.

Which painter (1867-1947) was the best-known member of 'Les Nabis', a post-impressionist group active in Paris in the 1890s?  The Dining Room in the Country is one of his better-known pictures

8.

What do the football clubs Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and Stevenage Borough uniquely have in common ?

ROUND 8 - Pot pourri

1.

Which doctor found himself an unintentional exile from his homeland in Africa in 1966 while visiting China?

2.

Who won this year’s World Series Baseball?

3.

Who was the leader of the coalition government at the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854?

4.

In which war was the word 'commando' first used to describe military expeditions?

5.

Which writer created the detective Sergeant Cuff?

6.

Name one of the two world heavyweight champion boxers who used the 'peekaboo' style.

7.

Who went around trying to sell cardium edule and mytilus edulis?

8.

What was the ironic title of the play in which Molière was performing when he was taken fatally ill?

Spares

1.

What name is given to a group of toads?

2.

Who was the last British writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature?

3.

Which island is surrounded by the Ionian, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian seas?

4.

Which Football League Team is currently managed by Uwe Rössler?

5.

Which Football League Team is currently managed by Paul Dickov?

ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

Who has invariably been Paul McCartney's best man?

Mike McCartney

(accept Mike McGear, but 'his brother' won't do)

2.

Which fellow future MP was Kenneth Clarke's best man in 1964?  It is unlikely that hamburgers were on the menu.

John Gummer

(or John Selwyn Gummer or Baron Deben)

3.

After his guards showed reluctance to storm a hill who said (in translation) "Dogs!  Do you want to live forever?"

Frederick the Great

4.

Who said in 1849 (in translation) "Italy is just a geographical concept"?

Prince Metternich

5.

Which north west venue has hosted the Formula 1 British Grand Prix 5 times?

Aintree

(late 50s – early 60s)

6.

Where are Rolls Royce Motor Cars now made?

Goodwood

7.

If you were to find IGT on your Super Toscana, what would it stand for?

Indicazione Geografica Tipica

8.

If you were to find AOC on your Roquefort, what would it stand for?

Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée

1.

Which is the only golf course outside Scotland and England to have hosted the Open Championship?

Royal Portrush

(Antrim in 1951)

2.

Which number one song features the lines: ”You think you’re mad, too unstable, kicking in chairs and knocking down tables”?

West End Girls

(by the Pet Shop Boys)

3.

Which drummer recorded solo under the pseudonym Klark Kent?

Stewart Copeland

(of the Police)

4.

Christopher Hamill was the lead singer of a 1980s pop band.  By what name is he better known?

Limahl

(the band was Kajagoogoo)

5.

What feature of medieval architecture derives its name from the French word for throat?

Gargoyle

6.

In which city is Vondelpark?            

Amsterdam

7.

Who was Charles Darwin’s famous grandfather?

Josiah Wedgewood

8.

According to legend which country connected Cornwall to the Scilly Isles?

Lyonnesse

1.

On this day in 1795 the 11th US President was born.  He is ranked among the greatest and is known for his successful Mexican War.  Who is he?

(James) Polk

2.

On this day in 1865 another US President was born.  This time he is ranked as one of the worst.  Perhaps it's just as well he died in office.  Who is he?

(Warren) Harding

3.

Which artist is responsible for painting the murals in the Great Hall of Manchester Town Hall?

Ford Madox Brown

4.

Which architect designed Manchester Art Gallery?

Sir Charles Barry

5.

Canterbury stands on which British river?

Stour

6.

Winchester stands on which river?

Itchen

7.

Which British driver recently died following an accident at the Las Vegas Indy 300?

Dan Wheldon

8.

Who was the first British driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1965?

Jim Clark

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

Give a year in the life of the poet John Donne.

1571 - 1631

2.

Give a year in the life of the poet Andrew Marvell.

1621 - 1678

3.

East Stirlingshire Football Club play their home fixtures in which town?

Falkirk

4.

Clyde Football Club play their home fixtures in which town?

Cumbernauld

5.

Dennis Brain was a renowned player of which musical instrument?

French horn

6.

Mstislav Rostropovich was a renowned player of which musical instrument?

Cello

7.

Patrick McLoughlin holds which position in the current parliament?

Government Chief Whip

8.

Michael Moore holds which position in the current government?

Secretary of State for Scotland

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

Who is this man who was awarded an MBE for his services to Childrens TV in 2008?  He is probably best known for ‘Mr Tumble’ and ‘Gigglebiz’ and now has an eponymous show. (first name only required)

Justin (Fletcher).

2.

Who is this lady who has been an anchor presenter on CBeebies for the last 3 years?  Her disability provoked a rare controversy for the channel as ignorant parents complained she was scaring their kids.  (first name only required)

Cerrie (Burnell).

3.

The chemotherapy drug Taxol, is synthesised from the toxin taxane which is derived from which tree?

Yew

4.

Colchicine, a drug used in the treatment of acute gout, was originally synthesised from the corms of which seasonal flower?

Autumn Crocus

(accept colchicum, Meadow Saffron or Naked Lady)

5.

Which river is this?

River Wye

(Tintern Abbey)

6.

Which river is this?

River Dee

(Llangollen)

7.

Who is the new President of Ireland?

Michael D Higgins

8.

What is the name of the Canon Chancellor of St Pauls Cathedral who resigned last week in the context of the Occupy London protests?

Dr Giles Fraser

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

The Category 'A' Whitemoor prison is built on what was formerly the largest goods marshalling yard in Britain.  Outside which town in Cambridgeshire does the prison stand?

March

2.

Which Shakespearean character appears disguised as Balthasar?

Portia

3.

Who is a co-founder of the campaign for nuclear disarmament who has been imprisoned a number of times for her peace-campaigning and stood unsuccessfully against Jim Callaghan in his Cardiff constituency in 1979?

(Pat) Arrowsmith

4.

Which 19th-century novelist wrote about the retired grocer turned foxhunter John Jorrocks, portrayed on television by Jimmy Edwards?

(Robert) Surtees

5.

What product is made from pigs' heads and the feet of oxen cut up, boiled and pickled?

Brawn

6.

Who is the only Scottish footballer to score in three World Cup finals?

Joe Jordan

7.

What sort of British craftsmen would use a flagging iron, a round shaver, a mallet, a buzz, an adze and a jigger?

A cooper

8.

What is the alternative name for the grass lucerne grown as an animal feedstuff?

Alfalfa

Sp.

Which British group formed in 1958 was originally named the Drifters but had to change after the threat of legal action from the US group of the same name?

The Shadows

ROUND 7 - Pot pourri

1.

It has been mentioned recently that there were six Ministers of Defence during the last Labour administration.  Geoff Hoon was probably the most prominent of them.  Name two of the other five.

(two from)

George Robertson,

John Reid,

John Hutton,

Des Browne,

Bob Ainsworth

2.

Basting, tent, whip, blanket, pad, top, blind are kinds of what? 

Sewing stitches

3.

What group of mostly alpine, perennial herbs whose name means literally 'stone-breaker' are so called because their roots break up rocks by growing into cracks?

Saxifrage

4.

In Roman history how is the year 193 AD known?

'Year of the Five Emperors'

5.

Who said: "I would like to live in Manchester, England.  The transition between Manchester and death would be unnoticeable."?

Mark Twain

6.

What is the scientific term for the distance 1.0 × 10^-10 metres?

Angstrom

7.

Which painter (1867-1947) was the best-known member of 'Les Nabis', a post-impressionist group active in Paris in the 1890s?  The Dining Room in the Country is one of his better-known pictures

(Pierre) Bonnard

8.

What do the football clubs Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and Stevenage Borough uniquely have in common ?

They were all champions of the conference league and then denied entry into the football league because their grounds weren't of a suitable standard

ROUND 8 - Pot pourri

1.

Which doctor found himself an unintentional exile from his homeland in Africa in 1966 while visiting China?

Dr Nkrumah

2.

Who won this year’s World Series Baseball?

St. Louis Cardinals

3.

Who was the leader of the coalition government at the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854?

Earl of Aberdeen

4.

In which war was the word 'commando' first used to describe military expeditions?

Boer War

5.

Which writer created the detective Sergeant Cuff?

Wilkie Collins

(in The Moonstone)

6.

Name one of the two world heavyweight champion boxers who used the 'peekaboo' style.

(one of)

Floyd Patterson

(or)

Mike Tyson

7.

Who went around trying to sell cardium edule and mytilus edulis?

Molly Malone

(they are cockles and mussels)

8.

What was the ironic title of the play in which Molière was performing when he was taken fatally ill?

Le Malade Imaginaire

(The Hypochondriac)

Spares

1.

What name is given to a group of toads?

A knot

2.

Who was the last British writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Doris Lessing

(in 2007)

3.

Which island is surrounded by the Ionian, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian seas?

Sicily

4.

Which Football League Team is currently managed by Uwe Rössler?

Brentford

5.

Which Football League Team is currently managed by Paul Dickov?

Oldham Athletic