One quiz at a time

Post by **DRT** » 17:55 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Belgian Congo, Governor, first man to be legally married to a silverback gorilla?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:56 Fri 04 Oct 2013

You can't guess again yet. Yours was the last incorrect guess.

Post by **DRT** » 18:03 Fri 04 Oct 2013

AHB wrote:You can't guess again yet. Yours was the last incorrect guess.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 18:20 Fri 04 Oct 2013

France.

Post by **DRT** » 18:23 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Belgian Congo, Governor, first man to be legally married to a silverback gorilla?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:32 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Not France nor Belgian Congo. Nor was he a Governor, nor was he the first man to legally marry a Silverback Gorilla.

For those coming late to this question, here is a summary of the answers so far:
Not Argentina, Belgian Congo (or any of the Congos), Belgium, France, Ireland or Wales
Not Minister for Agriculture, nor Governor.
Not the first man to legally marry a silverback gorilla.

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:33 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Brazil, cricket?

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:37 Fri 04 Oct 2013

AHB wrote:Not the first man to legally marry a silverback gorilla.

Silverbacks are boy gorillas: ok, never mind.

Post by **DRT** » 18:50 Fri 04 Oct 2013

South Africa, Ambassador, first British Ambassador following independence in 1931.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 19:03 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Falkland Islands, Foreign Minister (is that a post?)

Post by **DRT** » 19:08 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Glenn E. wrote:Falkland Islands, Foreign Minister (is that a post?)

No. A country would have a Foreign Minister to the UK (which includes her overseas territories). Ignoring the politics, the US equivalent would be the Foreign Minister of Guantanamo Bay.

Post by **DRT** » 19:12 Fri 04 Oct 2013

My logic was flawed, but the answer still appears to be no.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 19:50 Fri 04 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:
Glenn E. wrote:Falkland Islands, Foreign Minister (is that a post?)
No. A country would have a Foreign Minister to the UK (which includes her overseas territories). Ignoring the politics, the US equivalent would be the Foreign Minister of Guantanamo Bay.

So... would what I'm looking for be Governor, then? Or the Chief Executive? What's the top UK official for the Falklands?

Post by **DRT** » 20:02 Fri 04 Oct 2013

I think prior to the Faulklands War it had a UK appointed Governor. From 1985 it has had an independent elected government.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:29 Fri 04 Oct 2013

The WIkipedia article [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_the_Falkland_Islands]Governor of the Falkland Islands[/url] wrote:The Governor of the Falkland Islands is the representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands, acting "in Her Majesty's name and on Her Majesty's behalf" as the islands' de facto head of state in the absence of the British monarch. The role and powers of the Governor are set out in Chapter II of the Falkland Islands Constitution. The Governor in office resides at Government House, which serves as the official residence.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 20:33 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Governor then. My guess is adjusted thusly:

Falkland Islands, Governor.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:02 Fri 04 Oct 2013

jdaw1 wrote:Brazil, cricket?

Not Brazil, nor did he hold the post of cricket

DRT wrote:South Africa, Ambassador, first British Ambassador following independence in 1931.

Not South Africa, he was not an ambassador, nor was he the first British Ambassador following independence in 1931. (I know I am celebrating my not youthful birthday this year, but in 1931 my grandfather was in his early teens!)

Glenn E. wrote:Falkland Islands, Foreign Minister (is that a post?)

Not the Falkland Islands, nor was he a Foreign Minister (and I've already told DRT that he wasn't a Governor).

So the summary now becomes:

Not Argentina, Belgian Congo (or any of the Congos), Belgium, Brazil, France, Ireland, South Africa or Wales
Not Ambassador, Foreign Minister, Governor or Minister for Agriculture.
Not the first man to legally marry a silverback gorilla; not the first man to be a cricket; not the first British Ambassador to South Africa following their independence in 1931.

Post by **DRT** » 21:21 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Lord Mayor of Doncaster. First southerner to play cricket for Yorkshire?

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 22:49 Fri 04 Oct 2013

United States, member of British Embassy?

Post by **DRT** » 22:55 Fri 04 Oct 2013

Rhodesia. High Commissioner. Inventor of what is now known as the Robert Mugabe "I Can't Lose" Electoral System.

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:58 Fri 04 Oct 2013

AHB wrote:a minor dignatory in some parts of the world

To my reading, recent answers fail to capture this.

Post by **DRT** » 23:00 Fri 04 Oct 2013

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:a minor dignatory in some parts of the world
To my reading, recent answers fail to capture this.

And your guess is?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 01:09 Sat 05 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:a minor dignatory in some parts of the world
To my reading, recent answers fail to capture this.
And your guess is?

quite.
My guess is that he was a Russian.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:54 Sat 05 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:Lord Mayor of Doncaster. First southerner to play cricket for Yorkshire?

None of these

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:55 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Glenn E. wrote:United States, member of British Embassy?

Nor of these

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:55 Sat 05 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:Rhodesia. High Commissioner. Inventor of what is now known as the Robert Mugabe "I Can't Lose" Electoral System.

Nope

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:57 Sat 05 Oct 2013

djewesbury wrote:
DRT wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:a minor dignatory in some parts of the world
To my reading, recent answers fail to capture this.
And your guess is?
quite.
My guess is that he was a Russian.

No, but my father spoke fluent Russian - but that has nothing to do with the answer to this question.

Have we reached the stage of needing clues?

Post by **DRT** » 08:33 Sat 05 Oct 2013

AHB wrote:Have we reached the stage of needing clues?

Yes.

Jamaica. Customs Officer.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 09:21 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Guatemala. Culture minister.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 10:10 Sat 05 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:
AHB wrote:Have we reached the stage of needing clues?
Yes.

Jamaica. Customs Officer.

No, but keep thinking along the lines of Commonwealth and empire

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 10:11 Sat 05 Oct 2013

djewesbury wrote:Guatemala. Culture minister.

Neither of these. He was an architect by training.

Post by **DRT** » 10:59 Sat 05 Oct 2013

New Zealand. Head of Building Control.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 11:08 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Sri Lanka. Head of Planning.

Post by **jdaw1** » 11:57 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Did he build a prison? Or convert a prison to a different purpose? In South Africa?

Post by **DRT** » 12:21 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Hong Kong. Head of Land Reclamation.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 12:27 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Something in East Africa

Post by **DRT** » 12:46 Sat 05 Oct 2013

India. Head of Railways.

Post by **jdaw1** » 23:19 Sat 05 Oct 2013

Did he have dealings with Idi Amin in Uganda?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 23:21 Sat 05 Oct 2013

(No further guesses should be permitted until we get some answers... I suggest...)

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:24 Sun 06 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:New Zealand. Head of Building Control.

Wrong country, damn close with the job

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:25 Sun 06 Oct 2013

djewesbury wrote:Sri Lanka. Head of Planning.

Wrong country, also close with the job

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:26 Sun 06 Oct 2013

jdaw1 wrote:Did he build a prison? Or convert a prison to a different purpose? In South Africa?

Not South Africa; not a prison converter

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:27 Sun 06 Oct 2013

DRT wrote:Hong Kong. Head of Land Reclamation.

Hurrah! Hong Kong is correct. DRT is next.

Apologies in the delay in responding. One daughter and several tons of "necessary stuff" was being returned to Uni yesterday.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 07:45 Sun 06 Oct 2013

Tell us more. You can't just leave us hanging on Hong Kong.. What did he do?

Post by **DRT** » 08:18 Sun 06 Oct 2013

Was he in charge of approving plans to build skyscrapers?

Post by **jdaw1** » 09:17 Sun 06 Oct 2013

AHB wrote:One daughter and several tons of "necessary stuff" was being returned to Uni yesterday.

Nine weeks there, is 63 days, is 126 bottles, weighing, say, 420 lb. An Imperial ton is 2,240 lb, so presumably some of her stuff wasn’t actually necessary.

Post by **DRT** » 10:01 Sun 06 Oct 2013

jdaw1 wrote:presumably some of her stuff wasn’t actually necessary.

I have just been told that the number of pairs of shoes and boots required for a two day trip to London is more than can be accommodated within one suitcase. I see no benefit in challenging that view and suspect AHB recognised that any protestation about what was and was not necessary would be fruitless.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 11:22 Sun 06 Oct 2013

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:One daughter and several tons of "necessary stuff" was being returned to Uni yesterday.
Nine weeks there, is 63 days, is 126 bottles, weighing, say, 420 lb. An Imperial ton is 2,240 lb, so presumably some of her stuff wasn’t actually necessary.

If it were me spending 9 weeks at Uni, I would agree - assuming that I could fit other basic necessities such as corkscrew, decanter and 63 sets of clean underwear in with the 126 bottles.

However my daughter is female and so considers, inter alia, battery powered fairy lights to be an essential item for university attendance.

Post by **DRT** » 11:37 Sun 06 Oct 2013

I am not likely to be available to respond to guesses for the next couple of days so I forfeit my turn to ask the next question. First one to post a question takes my turn.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 11:44 Sun 06 Oct 2013

djewesbury wrote:Tell us more. You can't just leave us hanging on Hong Kong.. What did he do?

He was Head of the Hong Kong Housing Authority throughout most of the '60s, was Minister for Housing in Hong Kong in the early and mid-seventies and was the Head of Hong Kong Fire Brigade for some of the time he was out there. His most notable first was to have been the first (and perhaps still the only) Christian to have designed and built a major mosque in the Middle East. He was also part of the design team who came up with the design for the Avro Lancaster and led the work on the aircraft design modifications required to support Barnes Wallis' ambitions for Operation Chastise.

A few years ago I had the surreal experience of working in Kuala Lumpur with a colleague who had studied an Asian History degree in the University of Singapore. Among other modules she had studied the growth of unhoused populations in Hong Kong, the creation of the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the development of its policy of creating public housing. My grandfather was among the people she had studied!