Sunday Email: Issue 316

Great quiz last week set by Stuart and won by Rachel, Andy and Jim. Well done the winners and everyone who took part.

Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. See how you do. The answers are at the end of today’s email.

1. Name the smallest U.S state (in terms of area)
2. Who was Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021?
3. Who wrote the children’s books, Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham?
4. How many minutes are there in a week?
5. What do the letters QR (as in QR code) stand for?
6. Name the four European capitals that the Danube flows through.
7. Who was the first female recipient of the Nobel Prize?
8. What was the name of the actress who played Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street from 1964 to 1987?
9. Which animated film features a lion cub named Simba?
10. Which constituency did former Prime Minister Tony Blair represent?  

An extra test
We all know that those seeking British citizenship and settlement have to take a test as part of their application, but have you ever seen the questions…and would you be able to answer them? Here are just a few that Stuart included in his quiz to test you. You might be grateful that there are multiple answers to choose from:

1. What is the title of chairperson of the General Asembly of the Church of Scotland?  a) Archbishop  b) Bishop   c) Dean   d) Moderator
2. Which of the following is a responsibility expected of all residents?  a) Vote in every election  b) attend a place of worship   c) Learn to speak Welsh  d)Respect and obey the law.
3. John Constable (1776-1837) was a landscape painter most famous for his works of which area?
a) The Lake District  b)  The Scottish Highlands  c) The Cotswolds  d) Dedham Vale on the Sussex-Essex border
4. The Paralympics have their origin in the work of Dr Ludwig Guttman at which hospital? a) Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire  b)  St Thomas’ in London  c) Addenbrooke in Cambridge  d) Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.
5. What is the longest distance in miles on the UK mainland (from John O’Groats to Land’s End)? 
a) 500 miles  b)  650 miles   c) 870 miles   d)  1100 miles 
6. What percentage (approximately) of the total UK population lives in England?  a) 75%  b) 80% c) 84%  d) 90%.
7. The Boer War of 1899-1902 was fought in South Africa against settlers from which country? 
a)  France   b) Germany  c) Portugal  d) The Netherlands
8. In what year did the Emancipation Act abolish slavery throughout the British Empire?  
a) 1776  b) 1807   c) 1815   d) 1833.

St Columba’s Festival and Heritage Day
The annual celebration of Columba, the Patron Saint of our parish church, and the church’s amazing heritage will take place on Sunday 7 June.

St Columba’s was founded between 635 and 640AD by King, later Saint, Oswald, meaning we are moving ever closer to beginning our 1400th anniversary celebrations in just nine years’ time. However, plans for this year’s celebration will be somewhat simpler, including the annual village BBQ in the church hall and churchyard, starting at 12.30pm, to which everyone is very warmly invited. Please take with you your preferred wine and soft drinks, though some will be available. And if you would like to take along a salad and/or cake to share that would be most kind and helpful.

Then, from 2pm, why not join one of the groups climbing the church tower to enjoy the magnificent views from the top? The last group will leave at 4pm. For those without a head for heights you might wish to linger over the various display boards in the church, or join a guided tour to discover in more detail the history of the church and its features, some still remaining from the mediaeval church even after the Victorian rebuild. Or else just enjoy exploring our beautiful churchyard, our village ‘greenspace’, which is now emerging thanks to the tireless work and dedication of our team of local volunteers. 

The day concludes at 6.30pm with a festival service of Choral Evensong sung by the full church choir directed by Linda Hewlett. Choral Evensong is said by some to be the jewel in the crown of Anglican church music and we are lucky to have this sung every month throughout the year. So why not come give it a try and end your busy day with some glorious music, followed by a glass of wine?

All events, BBQ included, are completely free, but if you would like to give a donation to help cover a few costs and hopefully also add to our much-needed building repair and maintenance fund, that would be very much appreciated.