The British Experience. Part Six Quiz

Answer: a type of dance

The Highland Fling is an ancient Scottish dance dating back to before recorded history. Its origins are thought to have come from a victory dance performed by warriors, or by hunters after a successful stag hunt. They would dance around their "targes" - round shields with a central metal point.
The Highland Fling is now danced competitively, with judges looking for timing, technique and general deportment.

Answer: Winter

The pantomime season traditionally occurs around the Christmas period but can run up to and including February. This children's festive treat dates back to the middle ages. Most pantomimes usually feature well known celebrities.
Traditionally the principal boys are played by women and the elderly, often grotesquely ugly, women are played by men. The story lines are usually based on fairy tales such as "Puss in Boots", "Mother Goose", "Babes in the Wood" and "Jack and the Beanstalk".

Answer: bowls

It is said that when Drake was warned of the Spanish Armada's vicinity he remarked that he had time to conclude the game and still defeat the Spaniards. This he did. Vice Admiral Drake, born in Devon in 1540, was also a politician and civil engineer.
A drum which had accompanied Drake around the world is kept at Buckland Abbey. According to legend, if England is in danger the beating of Drake's Drum will awaken his spirit and he will return and defend the nation.

Answer: France

Concorde made its first scheduled flight in 1976. Britain and France were originally working independently on supersonic aircraft designs. But, because of prohibitive development and construction costs the two nations teamed up on the project.
Several countries initially banned Concorde from their airspace, citing potential damage caused by the aircraft's sonic boom as it went through the sound barrier. These fears proved to be unfounded and Concorde became a regular visitor in many nations.
Not only was Concorde fast, travelling at more the 1,500 miles per hour, it also had the world's best safety record until a crash on take-off in France in 2000. An investigation found that the disaster was caused by a metal fragment on the runway puncturing the aircraft's tyres and rupturing the fuel tank.
The heat created by air pressure when travelling at supersonic speeds would cause the Concorde's fuselage to extend by around 12 inches. Concorde was retired, after 27 years of service, in 2003.

Answer: Ambridge Amber

Red Leicester cheese dates back to the 1700s. It is a hard creamy cheese made from cow's milk.
Blue Stilton, known as "the king of cheeses", is a semi-soft and crumbly blue veined cheese. It can only legally be made in the English counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
Double Gloucester is a semi-hard cheese dating back to the sixteenth century. It gets its name from the practice of using a mixture of full cream milk collected in the morning and the evening.
Ambridge Amber does not exist. Ambridge is a fictional village featured in "The Archers", a BBC radio serial that has been running for more than fifty years.

Answer: Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands lie to the north east of the Scottish mainland. They became part of the UK in 1472 when they were taken from Norway in reparation for an unpaid marriage dowry.
The Shetland Islands have a population of around 22,000, many of whom feel closer to their Scandinavian origins than to the UK.

Answer: £: s: d

The old £: s: d was dropped in 1971 and the new decimal currency come in just pounds and pence - the shilling was scrapped. The "d" used to signify the old penny, originated from the Latin word "denarius" - a Roman coin. There were 12 old pence to a shilling, and 20 shillings in a pound. A pound is now worth 100 new pence.
There has been talk of the UK joining our European partners and adopting the Euro currency. But, there is considerable resistance to this on both financial and patriotic grounds.

Answer: Scots call the English Sassenachs

The word Sassenach comes from the Gaelic "Sasunnach" meaning Saxon. The term, also used by Scottish highlanders when referring lowlanders, is rarely used in an affectionate manner. It is more often used as a light-hearted term of abuse. According to the Oxford English Dictionary the first recorded use of the written word Sassenach dates back to 1771.

Answer: Grilled cheese on toast

To make Welsh Rarebit mix grated cheese with mustard and a small amount of milk or Beer. Spread this mixture thickly on a slice of toast. Now place under a hot grill until the mixture starts to bubble and go brown. You can also garnish with slices of tomato on top and place back under the grill for a minute or so. Yummy!

Answer: The Coronation Throne

The Tower of London is open to visitors all year round (except Christmas and New Year). It has housed the Crown Jewels since the 14th century. Traitors' Gate is at the base of St Thomas's Tower and opens onto the River Thames. It was called Traitors' Gate because many of those who passed through it on their way to imprisonment in the Tower were accused of treason.

The Bloody Tower is where Sir Walter Raleigh, who had been charged with plotting against King James I, was imprisoned for thirteen years.