You know, there’s an old belief that says sometimes, bad things happen in three’s. I don’t know if that’s the case, but the recent deaths of Patrick McGoohan, and Sir John Mortimer comes in the same week as the Brentwood Gazette’s news article about the final demolition of the Sir Charles Napier – written, co-incidently, by Piers Meyler of the Gazette, who’s hopefully covering the parking, and linked into the title, I should add.
But this is quite a sad one, to me, on a more personal note than an actor, or barrister’s death, however noted they were.
A little personal history should help, here, I think. The first quiz that I ran was at the Hutton, and that was, in part, because I’d been telling my boss I could it. Denise, bless her, took me up on it.
But the Napier was my second venue.
And the first one I had to hunt for …
So landing this gig was rather special to me, especially as it was the first pub I’d drank in, as well, back in the day.
But wandering in, that first time, to actually pitch to Nan and Donna was nerve-wracking. And successful, and led to a whole pile of good times.
And the weirdest first night, until the Freddie Eastwood Choral Society kicked off, that first night at the King Harold.
Mid-question, we had a kebab delivery. Or attempted delivery …
It’s not the oddest thing that’s happened in pub quiz history, but it stuck in my mind.
But that night was busy. An few old friends, Adrian + his then partner, Carly, were there, as were Alan and Graham. Kiwi Donna was on the Ramp, that night, as was Nan herself, Oxo and Charlie put in the first of many of their appearances. I even had the ‘No Ideas’ putting in their faces, and winning by the narrowest of margins. (Certainly Adrian, Margaret and Trish!)
Amazing what a simple question about tartan can do …
And it went on to become what I always referred to as my acoustic gig; – with the Hutton as heavy opera, and the King Harold, by comparison, having safety pins through its nose, a mohawk, and a tendency to spit while pogo’ing.
Great days.
So, as you can imagine, it’s a loss knowing the old gaff’s going.
I know the changing economic times need new ways of doing thing, I know the pub game’s changing rapidly, and I know, objectively, having the High Street pedestrianized is a good thing, but …
But …
We’re losing a small, community pub, one of two left in the high street. We’re tarmac-king over an oil well, so to speak.
And that’s our loss.
3 comments:
Just as a point of interest, here’s Napier Set One.
Round 1 General Knowledge
Q1) Which Russian leader announced his retirement in 1990?
A1) Boris Yeltsin.
Q2) Which veteran footbal manager went home to rescue the magpies?
A2) Frank Dobson.
Q3) Which river was to have a new bridge, as part of the Millennium
celebrations?
A3) The Thames. (The wobbling bridge)
Q4) During the 90’s, who was the highest paid woman on TV? (Extra point
for the tv show)
A4) Carol Vorderman, from “Countdown.”
Q5) In what year was “Black Monday?”
A5) 1987
Q6)In which country did the “Tonton Macoute,” operate?
A6) Haiti. (They were Papa Doc Duvalier’s secret police.)
Q7) Who wrote the book “Spycatcher?”
A7) (Former MI5 agent)Peter Wright
Q8) What type of plane first landed at Heathrow, in January 1970?
A8) A Boeing 747/Jumbo jet.
Q9) Which film gave John Wayne his 1st, and only Oscar?
A9) “True Grit.”
Q10) How were Tim, Graeme, and Bill better known?
A10) “The Goodies.”
Round 2 The Charts
Q11) Which knight’s 1st UK chart hit was “Your Song?”
A11) Elton John.
Q12) And whose early UK chart hits include “Space Oddity,” and “The
Laughing Gnome?”
A12) David Bowie.
Q13) “Waterloo,” was the 1st hit for which band?
A13) Abba.
Q14) Which 60’s singer had a hit with The Pet Shop Boys, sandy Shaw, or
Dusty Springfield?
A14) Dusty Springfield.
Q15) Debbie Harry fronted which band, during the 70’s, and 80’s?
A15) Blondie.
Q16) What song has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Sid Vicious, and Eartha
Kitt?
A16) “My Way.”
Q17) Mike D’Abo, and Paul Jones have both sung for which 60’s group?
A17) Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. (ACCEPT Manfred Mann)
Q18) Which 80’s band had hits with Tom Jones, Duane Eddy, and Max
Headroom?
A18) The Art of Noise.
Q19) Aphrodite’s Child featured which Greek heartthrob as a singer?
A19) Demis Roussos.
Q20) Thin Lizzy came from which country?
A20) Ireland.
Round 3 At the Movies
Q21) In the early 90’s, whose hat & cane sold for £55,000?
A21) Charlie Chaplin’s
Q22) Which blonde starred as Lorelei Lee, in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?”
A22) Marilyn Monroe.
Q23) Which Vivienne was once Mrs Laurence Olivier?
A23) Vivienne Leigh.
Q24) Which Dracula actor was born Bela Blasko?
A24) Bela Lugosi.
Q25) Jodie Foster once made a gangster film, as a child. What was it called?
A25) “Bugsy Malone.”
Q26) And who did she star opposite, in “Silence of The Lambs?”
A26) Anthony Hopkins.
Q27) Which actor directed and starred in “Unforgiven?”
A27) Clint Eastwood.
Q28) Which British film was described as being “5 good reasons to stay
single?”
A28) “Four Weddings & a Funeral.”
Q29) Which musical was Susan Sarandon’s 1st film?
A29) “The Rock Horror Picture Show.”
Q30) In which film did Robin Williams dress up as a Scottish housekeeper?
A30) “Mrs Doubtfire.”
Round 4 Record Breakers
Q31) Ian Botham 1st played cricket for which county?
A31) Somerset.
Q32) Eddie Merckx was a record breaker in which sport?
A32) Cycling.
Q33) In 1977, which golfer became the youngest ever player to win the
Ryder Cup?
A33) Nick Faldo.
Q34) Which footballer set a new transfer record, when bought & sold by
Blackburn?
A34) Alan Shearer.
Q35) During the 90’s, who became Wimbledon’s youngest ever Senior’s
Champ?
A35) Martina Hingis
Q36) In which sport is Mark Spitz a record breaker?
A36) Swimming.
Q37) In which event did Fatima Whitbread set a 1986 record?
A37) Javelin.
Q38) In 1996, who became England’s youngest ever football boss?
A38) Glenn Hoddle.
Q39) In 1995, who had the highest earning’s for men’s tennis?
A39) Pete Sampras.
Q40) Who won the 1st World Pro Snooker Championship, Joe Davies,
Fred Davies, or Steve Davies?
A40) Joe Davies.
Round 5 Food & Drink
Q41) Who created the 1st commercially available form of Absinthe?
A41) HenriLouie Pernod.(Accept Pernod)
Q42) Which type of wine is drunk at room temperature, red or white?
A42) Red.
Q43) What type of drink, is “Bristol Cream?”
A43) Sherry.
Q44) How many gallons are in a firkin?
A44) 9
Q45) What kind of dish is a chowder, casserole, soup, or stew?
A45) A soup.
Q46) What colour is the flesh of an avocado?
A46) Green
Q47) What kind of egg is covered in sausage meat?
A47) A scotch egg.
Q48) What kind of drink would you make in a cafetiere, tea, coffee, or cocoa??
A48) Coffee.
Q49) If you were eating al fresco, would you be indoors, or outdoors? A49) Outdoors.
Q50) What type of pasta has a junction near Birmingham named after
it?
A50) Spaghetti.(Spaghetti junction.)
Round 6 General Knowledge.
Q51) How much money does the slang phrase “a monkey,” refer to?
A51) £500.
Q52) Britain abolished the death sentence, in which year of the 1960’s?
A52) 1964.
Q53) Next 2 the Bible, which playwright is Britain’s best selling writer? A53) William Shakespeare.
Q54) What is the name for a speech, or scene, with only one actor?
A54) A monologue.
Q55) Who was the wife of Prince Albert of SaxeCoburgGotha?
A55) Queen Victoria.
Q56) What is usually kept in a band box?
A56) A hat.
Q57) Musically, how many lines are there in a stave?
A57) 5.
Q58) Matt Frewer played which stuttering talking head, on tv, during
the 80’s?
A58) ‘Max Headroom’
Q59) Whose hits include “Victims,” and “Church of The Poison Mind?”
A59) Culture Club
Q60) Which on the run train robber was featured in “The Great Rock & Roll Swindle?”
A60) Ronnie Biggs.
What a load of bollox it is that they are knocking down the Nap. Yes it was cold, dirty, mildly overpriced and on hotter days smelled like an incontinent mans pants, but it was ours and we loved it.
Yes we will have a shiny new slip road to drive on but will we be better as people? I think not
God speed Sir Charles, you will be missed!
Your right, Charlie! I’ve a funny feeling Bennetts must have had a few connections, in order to avoid the same fate!
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