Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Well, according to 'Mr Brown' he "...easily passed in Geography", which must have helped him get around the world in 80 days, but his housemaster thought he had "a slightly put-on manner of affectation" - maybe he should have become a lumberjack after all? Which pupil at Shrewsbury School in 1960 did these remarks apply to?
2. This deceased Canadian-born magnate, lampooned by novelist Evelyn Waugh as Lord Copper in 'Scoop' and in both 'Put Out More Flags' and 'Vile Bodies' as Lord Monomark, became Minister of Aircraft Production and later Minister of Supply under Winston Churchill in World War II. His headmaster's report, when he left Harkins Academy, started, "I never believed he would be in any way successful." Who was he so wrong about?
3. This author was written off at age 12 by Westminster School who declared that he "Has done ill, showing little or no ambition, even in mathematics". In actual fact he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge on a mathematics scholarship, become an assistant editor of "Punch", a writer of note and a playwright, and the author of two books about one of childrens' fiction's best loved characters. Who was he?
4. This much-loved English writer and poet's most famous work is an autobiographical trilogy. The first volume deals with his idyllic chilhood in Slad, Gloucestershire. It seems strange, then, that his English teacher wrote, "Off you go and I'm glad to get rid of you". Who was this, who walked out one summer morning?
5. What might have been? The British Royal family might look different today had this West Heath pupil taken the advice from her report that "She must try to be less emotional in her dealings with others". Who was this person, who left school without an O-Level, but at one time was one of the most famous and talked-about people ever?
6. This lady, whose eponymous character's Diary has been made into films starring Renee Zellweger, was told in senior school English that she "... must learn not to use such flowery language". Which author was this?
7. Schools often find themselves nonplussed by individuality. What might have been, had the advice of Westminster School, reading "He shows great individuality, which must be curbed at all costs" been followed in the case of this great Renaissance man. Who was this man, knighted in 1990, who went on to become a Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF among many other talents?
8. This late actor, born John Eric Bartholomew, was half of a much-loved British comedy duo. However, at Lancaster Road Junior School, his headmaster concluded that "This boy will never get anywhere in life". What might have been? Well, had he believed that, Christmas would not have been the same in Britain! Who was this man who, with his comedy partner, was almost as much an institution on BBC at Christmas as the Queen's Speech between 1969 and 1980?
9. This talented director, actor, comedian and musician certainly took his report from New York University at the end of his first semester to heart, spending at least 30 years in psychoanalysis. Who did the reviewing board write this about: "While cautiously holding out some hope of readmission suggested he seek counselling for his inability to take life seriously"?
10. Finally, probably the best example of 'What Might Have Been'. This person's terrible school reports are the stuff of legend. From his first reports at St George's School "... a regular 'pickle' in many ways...", to "A constant trouble to everybody ... He cannot be trusted to behave himself anywhere ", to "... He has no ambition" to Harrow's "Constantly late ... losing his books and papers..so regular in his irregularity...'made useless by habitual negligence'", it was not until after an impassioned letter from his mother that he left Harrow with "His work this term has been excellent". The world would have been a very different place without this statesman. Who was this man?
Source: Author
Quiz_Beagle
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