ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

Which English king was known as Fitzempress?

2.

Another Henry, known as the Fowler, ruled over which dominion?

3.

Which country became landlocked after an 1871-1884 war?

4.

Which country achieved landlocked status after a 1993 independence referendum for part of its territory?

5.

Armorica was the Roman name for which region of France?

6.

Aquae Sextae was the Roman name for which southern French city?

7.

Which actor played a duellist in The Duellists and a bad lieutenant in Bad Lieutenant (1993) as well as numerous roles for Scorsese and Tarantino?

8.

This actor played a thief in Thief and a gambler in The Gambler but his biggest role led to him being voted (incongruously) 'Italian of the Year'.  Who was he?

Sp

In another disastrous war Bolivia lost almost a half of its remaining territory to Paraguay.  What was that area called?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

1.

The town of Soham, scene of a 2002 tragedy, is in which county?

2.

Which 15th century saint was the subject of two hit singles by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark?

3.

John F Kennedy was travelling in a customized version of what make and model of car when he was assassinated?

4.

The old furnace at Coalbrookdale is where the process of iron smelting using coke was perfected in the early 18th century.  Who got most of the credit for this?

5.

Michael Portillo, when a pupil at Harrow County School, played MacDuff in the school production of Macbeth.  Who played Lady MacDuff?  (Subsequently she has been frequently seen snuggling up to him.)

6.

Which confectionery brand, most famous for 'minty bit stronger' mints, was an independent company until its acquisition by Cadbury’s in 1989?

7.

In 2008 the City and Municipality of Florence officially apologised for whose banishment 700 years earlier?

8.

In 1944 a diplomatic conference was held in Washington DC.  It led to the 1945 San Francisco Conference which set up the United Nations.  What is the academic institution after which the conference was named?

Sp

Born in Co. Kildare, this British army officer became famous when General Burgoyne tasked him with leading an important but unsuccessful offensive in the Saratoga campaign of 1777.  Who was he?

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - Pairs

1.

Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is Member of Parliament for which constituency?

2.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, is Member of Parliament for which constituency?

3.

Why was Simon Brodkin in the news recently?

4.

Stephen Paddock recently shot a considerable number of people from a hotel room window in Las Vegas.  From which hotel did he open fire?

5.

Only one nuclear-powered submarine has fired its torpedoes in conflict.  It sank the Argentine Battle Cruiser General Belgrano.  What was the name of the submarine?

6.

The same submarine is the only British nuclear submarine not to have been built at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard.  Where was she built?

7.

At 1007 Km long, what is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula?

8.

What is the second longest river wholly in the European Union (including its tributary)?

Sp

What is the main ingredient of Harissa?

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

David John Moore Cornwell is better known as whom?

2.

What is John Le Carre’s most recent novel called?

3.

What is the title of the latest Dan Brown book featuring the character Robert Langdon?

4.

By what other name is the author Robert Galbraith known?

5.

Who played the character Alex in the film Dunkirk?

6.

Donald Trump has been married three times.  Everyone remembers Ivana and knows present incumbent Melania.  Who came in-between?

7.

Winston Churchill made his famous Iron Curtain speech in 1946.  From where to where did he say the Iron Curtain ran?

8.

Where did he make his Iron Curtain speech?

Sp

What are the four main ingredients in a Waldorf Salad?

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

Which 1911 Arnold Bennett novel chronicles the rise of Denry Machin to become Mayor of Bursley?

2.

Checkmate (1937) is a ballet created by Ninnette de Valois and which master of the King's music?

3.

Which electromagnetic radiation was called 'chemical rays' by Johan Wilhelm Ritter?

4.

Which British racing driver holds the record for the most Formula 1 wins without winning the world title?

5.

The music for the ballet Les Sylphides was composed by which composer?

6.

Which US physicist (1927-2007) is credited with building the first working laser?

7.

Germaine Tailleferre's 1957 opera La Petite Syrene is based on which childrens’ story?

8.

Roland Polanski's film Weekend of a Champion, is about which racing driver?

Sp

The book keeper Frank Mason Robinson created the logo for which drink?

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

The lines “And in my hour of darkness / She is standing there in front of me” come from which song by which group?

2.

The lines “Home where my thought’s escaping / Home where my music’s playing” come from which song by which performers?

3.

Danforth, Plough, Fisherman’s and CQR are all types of what?

4.

Nuttalls, Hewitts, Corbetts and Grahams are classifications of what?

5.

The current number one album (as of 15/10/17) is by former Oasis vocalist Liam Gallagher, emulating the feat of his brother Noel, no doubt to the latter’s great dismay.  What is the previous instance of two of a group’s members having solo number one albums?

6.

According to a report published on 5th October 2017 by the Official Chart Company, which mature solo artist’s album is the best-selling 2017 release in the UK by a female vocalist?

7.

Which recent film release portrays the Milne family at the time of the creation and initial success of Winnie The Pooh? (exact title required)

8.

Which recent film release is an animated biographical drama about the life of Vincent Van Gogh? (exact title required)

Sp

Moon, Pigtail, Clapper and Trestle are types of what vital structure?

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

Which seventh-seeded tennis player was the runner-up to Roger Federer at this year’s Wimbledon championship?

2.

The women’s grand slam singles finals of 2017 featured seven different players.  Who is the only one to appear in more than one final?

3.

In April 1980 many people were outraged when the BBC reported that improvements were to be made to Big Ben’s clock.  What improvements were these?

4.

On 1st April 1957 BBC’s Panorama showed pictures of people collecting produce from trees and reported that due to an unusually mild summer and the disappearance of a weevil pest there had been a bumper harvest in Southern Switzerland of what?

5.

What do the following people have in common: John Boyd Orr, Robert Cecil, Arthur Henderson, Norman Angell and Philip Noel-Baker?

6.

The last of the afore-mentioned, Philip Noel-Baker, is unique among Nobel Prize winners for having won what else?

7.

The life and work of which Algerian-born fashion designer is the subject of a spectacular museum which has just opened in Marrakech?

8.

British fashion designer Georgina Chapman has recently parted from her husband.  Who is he?

Sp

A line of poetry: “Ring out the false, ring in the true”, is inscribed on Manchester Town Hall’s clock tower bell. Which famous poet wrote it?

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - Pot pourri

1.

In Greek mythology, who was Helen of Troy’s half-sister who was NOT fathered by Zeus?

2.

In Greek Mythology, who was the wife of King Minos who gave birth to the minotaur?

3.

The lines: “Some are born to sweet delight / Some are born to endless night” come from which song by which artist?

4.

The lines: ”But my dreams they aren’t as empty / As my conscience seems to be” come from which song by which group?

5.

Recently the British Museum was not amused to find that a piece of Rock Art had been hanging amongst its exhibits for “a significant time”.  It depicted a Stick Man pushing a shopping trolley and labelled Early Man Shopping.  Who was the artist?

6.

Eoanthus Dawsoni is the scientific name for what?

7.

Kangaroo, Swiss Army, Mountain and Butcher are all types of what?

8.

Pouters, Rollers, Tumblers and Hungarian Giant are varieties of what?

Sp

Which English writer (1672-1769) published the rules for many card games, most notably whist?

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

Which English king was known as Fitzempress?

Henry II

2.

Another Henry, known as the Fowler, ruled over which dominion?

Holy Roman Empire

3.

Which country became landlocked after an 1871-1884 war?

Bolivia

4.

Which country achieved landlocked status after a 1993 independence referendum for part of its territory?

Ethiopia

5.

Armorica was the Roman name for which region of France?

Brittany

6.

Aquae Sextae was the Roman name for which southern French city?

Aix en Provence

7.

Which actor played a duellist in The Duellists and a bad lieutenant in Bad Lieutenant (1993) as well as numerous roles for Scorsese and Tarantino?

Harvey Keitel

8.

This actor played a thief in Thief and a gambler in The Gambler but his biggest role led to him being voted (incongruously) 'Italian of the Year'.  Who was he?

James Caan

Sp

In another disastrous war Bolivia lost almost a half of its remaining territory to Paraguay.  What was that area called?

Gran Chaco

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

1.

The town of Soham, scene of a 2002 tragedy, is in which county?

Cambridgeshire

2.

Which 15th century saint was the subject of two hit singles by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark?

Joan of Arc

3.

John F Kennedy was travelling in a customized version of what make and model of car when he was assassinated?

Lincoln Continental

4.

The old furnace at Coalbrookdale is where the process of iron smelting using coke was perfected in the early 18th century.  Who got most of the credit for this?

Abraham Darby

(‘the first’ or ‘the elder’ but 'Abraham Darby' is enough for a correct answer)

5.

Michael Portillo, when a pupil at Harrow County School, played MacDuff in the school production of Macbeth.  Who played Lady MacDuff?  (Subsequently she has been frequently seen snuggling up to him.)

Diane Abbott

6.

Which confectionery brand, most famous for 'minty bit stronger' mints, was an independent company until its acquisition by Cadbury’s in 1989?

Trebor

7.

In 2008 the City and Municipality of Florence officially apologised for whose banishment 700 years earlier?

Dante

8.

In 1944 a diplomatic conference was held in Washington DC.  It led to the 1945 San Francisco Conference which set up the United Nations.  What is the academic institution after which the conference was named?

Dumbarton Oaks

Sp

Born in Co. Kildare, this British army officer became famous when General Burgoyne tasked him with leading an important but unsuccessful offensive in the Saratoga campaign of 1777.  Who was he?

(Barry) St Leger

Theme: Famous European horse races

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - Pairs

1.

Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is Member of Parliament for which constituency?

Uxbridge and South Ruislip (full name required)

2.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, is Member of Parliament for which constituency?

Runnymede and Weybridge

(full name required)

3.

Why was Simon Brodkin in the news recently?

He handed Theresa May a P45 during her speech at Conservative Party Conference

4.

Stephen Paddock recently shot a considerable number of people from a hotel room window in Las Vegas.  From which hotel did he open fire?

The Mandalay Bay Hotel

5.

Only one nuclear-powered submarine has fired its torpedoes in conflict.  It sank the Argentine Battle Cruiser General Belgrano.  What was the name of the submarine?

HMS Conqueror

6.

The same submarine is the only British nuclear submarine not to have been built at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard.  Where was she built?

Birkenhead

(Cammell Laird shipyard)

7.

At 1007 Km long, what is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula?

The Tagus

8.

What is the second longest river wholly in the European Union (including its tributary)?

Elbe/Vlatava (accept Elbe)

(the Elbe/Vlatava is 1252km - the Rhine is not wholly in the EU as it rises in Switzerland)

Sp

What is the main ingredient of Harissa?

Chilli Peppers

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

David John Moore Cornwell is better known as whom?

John Le Carré

2.

What is John Le Carre’s most recent novel called?

A Legacy of Spies

3.

What is the title of the latest Dan Brown book featuring the character Robert Langdon?

Origin

4.

By what other name is the author Robert Galbraith known?

J K Rowling

5.

Who played the character Alex in the film Dunkirk?

Harry Styles

6.

Donald Trump has been married three times.  Everyone remembers Ivana and knows present incumbent Melania.  Who came in-between?

Marla Maples

7.

Winston Churchill made his famous Iron Curtain speech in 1946.  From where to where did he say the Iron Curtain ran?

Stettin to Trieste

8.

Where did he make his Iron Curtain speech?

Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri (accept Fulton)

Sp

What are the four main ingredients in a Waldorf Salad?

Apples, celery, grapes and walnuts

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

Which 1911 Arnold Bennett novel chronicles the rise of Denry Machin to become Mayor of Bursley?

The Card

2.

Checkmate (1937) is a ballet created by Ninnette de Valois and which master of the King's music?

Arthur Bliss

3.

Which electromagnetic radiation was called 'chemical rays' by Johan Wilhelm Ritter?

Ultraviolet radiation

4.

Which British racing driver holds the record for the most Formula 1 wins without winning the world title?

Stirling Moss

5.

The music for the ballet Les Sylphides was composed by which composer?

Frederic Chopin

6.

Which US physicist (1927-2007) is credited with building the first working laser?

Theodore Maiman

7.

Germaine Tailleferre's 1957 opera La Petite Syrene is based on which childrens’ story?

The Little Mermaid

8.

Roland Polanski's film Weekend of a Champion, is about which racing driver?

Jackie Stewart

Sp

The book keeper Frank Mason Robinson created the logo for which drink?

Coca Cola

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

The lines “And in my hour of darkness / She is standing there in front of me” come from which song by which group?

Let it Be by The Beatles

2.

The lines “Home where my thought’s escaping / Home where my music’s playing” come from which song by which performers?

Homeward Bound by Simon and Garfunkel

3.

Danforth, Plough, Fisherman’s and CQR are all types of what?

Anchor

4.

Nuttalls, Hewitts, Corbetts and Grahams are classifications of what?

Hills

(more strictly 'High Points over a certain height with - differing - clear heights on all sides')

5.

The current number one album (as of 15/10/17) is by former Oasis vocalist Liam Gallagher, emulating the feat of his brother Noel, no doubt to the latter’s great dismay.  What is the previous instance of two of a group’s members having solo number one albums?

(Sorry to say, it’s.....)

One Direction

(in the form of Harry Styles and Zayn Malik occurring earlier in 2017)

6.

According to a report published on 5th October 2017 by the Official Chart Company, which mature solo artist’s album is the best-selling 2017 release in the UK by a female vocalist?

Vera Lynn

7.

Which recent film release portrays the Milne family at the time of the creation and initial success of Winnie The Pooh? (exact title required)

Goodbye Christopher Robin

8.

Which recent film release is an animated biographical drama about the life of Vincent Van Gogh? (exact title required)

Loving Vincent

Sp

Moon, Pigtail, Clapper and Trestle are types of what vital structure?

Bridge

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

Which seventh-seeded tennis player was the runner-up to Roger Federer at this year’s Wimbledon championship?

Marin Cilic

2.

The women’s grand slam singles finals of 2017 featured seven different players.  Who is the only one to appear in more than one final?

Venus Williams

3.

In April 1980 many people were outraged when the BBC reported that improvements were to be made to Big Ben’s clock.  What improvements were these?

It was to be made digital

4.

On 1st April 1957 BBC’s Panorama showed pictures of people collecting produce from trees and reported that due to an unusually mild summer and the disappearance of a weevil pest there had been a bumper harvest in Southern Switzerland of what?

Spaghetti

5.

What do the following people have in common: John Boyd Orr, Robert Cecil, Arthur Henderson, Norman Angell and Philip Noel-Baker?

British Nobel Peace Prize Winners

6.

The last of the afore-mentioned, Philip Noel-Baker, is unique among Nobel Prize winners for having won what else?

An Olympic medal

(800m silver in Antwerp)

7.

The life and work of which Algerian-born fashion designer is the subject of a spectacular museum which has just opened in Marrakech?

Yves St Laurent

8.

British fashion designer Georgina Chapman has recently parted from her husband.  Who is he?

Harvey Weinstein

Sp

A line of poetry: “Ring out the false, ring in the true”, is inscribed on Manchester Town Hall’s clock tower bell. Which famous poet wrote it?

Tennyson

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - Pot pourri

1.

In Greek mythology, who was Helen of Troy’s half-sister who was NOT fathered by Zeus?

Clytemnestra

2.

In Greek Mythology, who was the wife of King Minos who gave birth to the minotaur?

Pasiphae

3.

The lines: “Some are born to sweet delight / Some are born to endless night” come from which song by which artist?

End of the Night by Jim Morrison

4.

The lines: ”But my dreams they aren’t as empty / As my conscience seems to be” come from which song by which group?

Behind blue eyes by The Who

5.

Recently the British Museum was not amused to find that a piece of Rock Art had been hanging amongst its exhibits for “a significant time”.  It depicted a Stick Man pushing a shopping trolley and labelled Early Man Shopping.  Who was the artist?

Banksy

6.

Eoanthus Dawsoni is the scientific name for what?

Piltdown Man

7.

Kangaroo, Swiss Army, Mountain and Butcher are all types of what?

Bicycle

8.

Pouters, Rollers, Tumblers and Hungarian Giant are varieties of what?

Pigeon

Sp

Which English writer (1672-1769) published the rules for many card games, most notably whist?

Edmond Hoyle

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers