Hampshire & Isle of Wight Natives Quiz

Answer: Sheila Hancock

Sheila Hancock OBE was born in Blackgang, Isle of Wight on February 22, 1933. In 'Eastenders', she played Barbara Owen, mother of Steve and Jackie, for a year before dying in July 2001.

The other three alternatives also appeared in 'Carry On' films... Joan Sims, born in 1930, was an Essex native. Amanda Barrie was born in Lancashire in 1935. Barbara Windsor is a true 'Eastender', born in Shoreditch in 1937.

Answer: Jane Austen

All of Jane Austen's novels were written in the last few years of her life. The first, 'Sense and Sensibility', was published in 1811. Then followed 'Pride and Prejudice' in 1813, 'Mansfield Park' in 1814 and 'Emma' a year later. Her last two novels, 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion' were both published after her death in 1817.
Of the alternatives, Admiral Nelson was born in 1758 in Norfolk. Painter John Constable was a Suffolk native, born only a few months after Austen. Hymn-writer Isaac Watts was from Hampshire but he was born much earlier, in 1674 in Southampton.

Answer: Thomas Arnold

Thomas Arnold, born in Cowes, Isle of Wight in 1795, was the Rugby headmaster immortalized by former Rugby student Thomas Hughes in his novel set at the school. He was the patriarch of a family that produced numerous famous scholars, notably the novelists Aldous Huxley and Mrs Humphrey Ward. The other three alternatives listed are also connected to Rugby School, but they are all former pupils there: the poet Matthew Arnold (who was Thomas Arnold's son), the war-time poet Rupert Brooke, and Charles Dodgson, who created "Alice in Wonderland" under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll.

Other famous 'Old Rugbeians' include Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the novelist Salmon Rushdie.

Answer: Bobby Stokes

Born in 1951, Bobby Stokes grew up expecting to sign for his boyhood heroes at Fratton Park, but in the end it was archrivals Southampton who gave him his chance in 1966. His 83rd-minute goal for the 2nd Division team in the 1976 F.A. Cup Final upset red-hot favorites Manchester United to earn the Saints a first major trophy since their formation in 1885.
Stokes ended his career at Portsmouth in 1977-78. He died tragically in 1995 at the age of 44 having contracted pneumonia while playing golf.
Of the three alternatives, only Terry Paine (who made 713 appearances for the club and was a member of the 1966 England World Cup winning squad) is a Hampshire native -- he was born in Winchester. Channon was born in neighboring Wiltshire and Le Tissier is from Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

Answer: Benny Hill

Alfred Hawthorne Hill, aka Benny Hill, was born in Eastleigh, near Southampton in 1924. Best known for his zany TV series 'The Benny Hill Show', he also appeared in nine feature films. His hit single, "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)", was the UK Christmas #1 in 1971.
He died on April 19, 1992, on the same day as another legendary British TV comedian, Frankie Howerd.

Answer: Jeremy Irons

Jeremy John Irons was born in Cowes in 1948, although he grew up in a village on the eastern side of the island. He won his Academy Award for his portrayal of Claus von Bulow in "Reversal of Fortune".
This was a good era for British actors at the Oscars... Daniel Day-Lewis, born in London, won in 1989. Anthony Hopkins, born in Port Talbot, Wales, won in 1991. Ben Kingsley, born in Scarborough, Yorskire won a few years earlier, in 1982.

Answer: John Arlott

Leslie Thomas John Arlott was a poet, author and journalist with a particular affinity for fine wine, on which he was an accomplished expert. His deep, resonant voice was instantly recognizable to cricket-lovers around the world, who happily listened all day to hear Arlott produce one of his trademark poetic descriptions of the action.

He died in 1991 aged 77. Of the alternatives, Brian 'Jonners' Johnston was only two years older than Arlott, born in 1912 in Hertfordshire. Ernest William 'Jim' Swanton was older still, born in 1907, and he was a Londoner. Don Mosey, nicknamed "The Alderman" was a Yorkshireman and the youngest of the bunch, born in 1924.

Answer: James Callaghan

Leonard James Callaghan (later Baron Callaghan of Cardiff) is the only person to have held all four major offices of state -- Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign and Home Secretary. He is also the tallest ever British PM. Although he met his wife, Audrey, while they were both working as Sunday School teachers at a Baptist church, Callaghan became an atheist.

He died just 11 days after his wife passed away and the day before his 93rd birthday, making him the longest-lived British PM, breaking Harold MacMillan's record by six weeks. Of the alternatives, Douglas-Home was nine years older than Callaghan, born in 1903 in London. Wilson and Heath were four years younger than Callaghan and born within three months of each other in 1916. Wilson was a Yorkshireman from Huddersfield and Heath was from Kent.

Answer: New Zealand

Sewell became New Zealand's Colonial Secretary (considered the equivalent of Premier or Prime Minister) on May 7, 1856. His leadership did not see out the month, although he did also serve as the nation's Colonial Treasurer (Chancellor equivalent) for a while later in that same year.

Answer: Elizabeth Hurley

Elizabeth Jane Hurley did not get her first modeling job until she was 29, as the 'face of Estee Lauder' in 1995. She is, perhaps, best known, though, as the former girlfriend of Hugh Grant and, of course, for THAT Versace dress!
Of the alternatives, Jordan was born Pamela Rooke in East Sussex in 1955. Jade Jagger was born in 1971 and is actually a native of Paris, France. Heather Mills is three years younger than Hurley and another Hampshire native, but born in Aldershot.