Pub Quiz thread

[NZHorn]

I think their definition of 'invade' is a little too broad. Britain has not invaded Fiji, for example. The king of Fiji pleaded with Britain to take over the running of the Government, in order to protect the islands from, variously, Tongan and US invasion. Eventually Britain did so but only after a Conservative government was elected. It was New Zealand that invaded Samoa, not Britain. NZ were far worse colonial administrators than the British (but better than the Germans before them and the US in American Samoa.

And then there is Lesotho and Swaziland,

As I say, a rather broad interpretation of 'invade'.

Anyway -

Who served as Mayor of London and also Mayor of Calais?

 

[vic-rijrode]

They are the only countries in the world that have not been invaded by the British.

Then they've been damn unlucky........

 

[Bloother]

Who served as Mayor of London and also Mayor of Calais?

That would be Richard (nee Dick?) Whittington.

 

[NZHorn]

That would be Richard (nee Dick?) Whittington.

That's the chap, without a cat.

 

[Bloother]

That's the chap, without a cat.

Thanks NZ?

The cast of The Great Escape (1963) includes one genuine WWII PoW. Who?

 

[Hornet-Fez]

Donald Pleasance. He was an RAF Pilot. Eventually he was appointed as a technical advisor to the film as he had also been tortured by the Nazis.

 

[hornethologist a.k.a. theo]

Donald Pleasance. He was an RAF Pilot. Eventually he was appointed as a technical advisor to the film as he had also been tortured by the Nazis.

A friend of mine taught somewhere in Chiswick and one parents' evening suggested that one of his pupils was, to put in politely, idle. The father seemed unimpressed, offering a rather cold stare. One of his colleagues said after the departing father was out of earshot, "Don't you know who that was? Donald Pleasance."

 

[Bolton's Boots]

That would be Richard (nee Dick?) Whittington.

nee Dick?? Was that his Scottish nickname because he didn't have a penis, or did he take his wife's name upon marriage?

 

[Bloother]

Donald Pleasance. He was an RAF Pilot. Eventually he was appointed as a technical advisor to the film as he had also been tortured by the Nazis.

correct Fez. Donald Pleasence was shot down during a raid on Agenville and imprisoned for a year in a Stalag Luft, where he produced and acted in plays.

Over to you.

 

[Bloother]

nee Dick?? Was that his Scottish nickname because he didn't have a penis, or did he take his wife's name upon marriage?

I don't know why I put that to be honest, so I'll go with your first suggestion

 

[Hornet-Fez]

Sticking with The Great Escape, which was something of a Hollywood distortion of the events, but what was Steve McQueen's genuine connection? (Tenuous links 101...)

 

[Bolton's Boots]

Sticking with The Great Escape, which was something of a Hollywood distortion of the events, but what was Steve McQueen's genuine connection? (Tenuous links 101...)

Did he own the bike?

 

[Hornet-Fez]

Did he own the bike?

The bike is fake. Authenticity wasn't a key element in the film but McQueen does have a genuine link, albeit tenuous, with the actual escape.

 

[Hornet-Fez]

Well, here's me thinking this was easy subject to a little bit of lateral thinking or a bit of comparative research...

 

[Toby]

Well, here's me thinking this was easy subject to a little bit of lateral thinking or a bit of comparative research...

Did he run a long-distance tunnel-digging consultancy firm?

 

[Deleted 1]

Did he run a long-distance tunnel-digging consultancy firm?

 

[geitungur akureyrar]

Steve mcQueen was a marine and was in military prison for misbehaviour, like his character in The Great Escape was sent to confinement many times.

 

[Hornet-Fez]

Did he run a long-distance tunnel-digging consultancy firm?

LOL no... but Charles Bronson was a miner before joining the army and suffered from claustrophobia as did his character in the film.

 

[Hornet-Fez]

Steve mcQueen was a marine and was in military prison for misbehaviour, like his character in The Great Escape was sent to confinement many times.

Maybe, maybe not but it is not the answer I'm looking for.
The connection is between Steve McQueen himself and the actual event portrayed in the film.

 

[colognehornet]

Steve McQueen was actually arrested by the German police during filming - because of a speed trap.