Transported Trivia Quiz

Answer: Budgie

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who was once married to Prince Andrew wrote a series of books for children called "Budgie the Little Helicopter". After the first book was published, she was forced to deny plagiarism claims in respect of the book by A. Baldwin "Hector the Helicopter". Budgie went on to become an animated television series seen in both the UK and the USA.

This was accompanied by a range of videos and marketing material.

Answer: Brief Encounter

Starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson, with a screenplay by Noel Coward, this 1945 film features two strangers who are attracted to each other when he, a doctor, removes grit from her eye. They agree to meet again, but soon come to realise that what started as an innocent friendship is developing into more. Reflecting perfectly the moral and social attitudes of the times, they realise they cannot continue their meetings and agree to meet for one last goodbye.

Answer: Michael

"Michael Row The Boat Ashore" started life as an African-American spiritual song. The first definite record of it comes during the American Civil War. It gained popularity as a folk song in the 1950s with Pete Seeger in live concerts. It was then recorded, in quick succession, by Bob Gibson, The Highwaymen, Lonnie Donegan, Harry Belafonte, Trini Lopez and Pete Seeger.

It is generally thought to refer to rowing a boat across the River Jordan and meeting the souls of departed loved ones on the other side.

Answer: Porsche

Before dying at the age of 27 from a heroin overdose Janis Joplin had more than made her mark on the music industry. Her raspy, soulful voice earned her the title of "Queen of Rock and Roll". She was a massive hit at festivals such as Woodstock. Her stage performances were described by many as electric. In her short career she only had one number one hit, "Me and Bobby McGee", which topped the singles chart in 1971 shortly after her death. "Mercedes Benz", which she recorded in 1970, is a personal favourite of mine. The opening lyrics are:

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?"

Answer: Longfellow

Paul Revere was an American silversmith and revolutionary. The poem was written to commemorate his ride to alert Colonial troops to the approach of the British before the battles of Lexington and Concorde. He helped organise a system that not only kept watch on British troop movements, but also alerted Colonial troops to their approach.

He was also one of the ringleaders in the Boston Tea Party. After the war he returned to his silversmithing, and also experimented with copper. He was the first person recorded to roll copper sheets so that they could be used to sheath naval vessels.

Answer: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

This 1974 philosophical book by Robert M. Pirsig is a description of a seventeen day motorcycle trip, interspersed with philosophical discussions. It has little to do with either Zen or motorcycle maintenance. It contains such lines as "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity.

When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a religion". Despite being rejected by almost too many publishers to count, it became an unlikely best seller, becoming almost a handbook to life for the New Age and psychedelic movements of the time.

Answer: Summer Holiday

"Summer Holiday", released in 1963, was Cliff Richard's fourth film, after "The Young Ones". Once again the cast included The Shadows. The plot was not complicated. A group of friends borrowed a London bus which they converted to a holiday home and drove it across Europe, having various unlikely adventures along the way. Like many films featuring popular singers of the time, it was a vehicle for songs. Nevertheless, it was popular with Cliff fans, who happily queued round the block to be amongst the first to see it.

Answer: Pern

"The Dragonrider of Pern" novels are set on a planet colonised by humans who then lose all contact with Earth. Faced with a life-threatening substance that falls from the skies at regular intervals, they genetically engineer a native life form into fire-breathing telepathic dragons.

These dragons choose their own rider as they hatch and it is a lifelong bond. With detailed descriptions of a society forced back to almost feudalism and dependent entirely on their own wits and resources, these books have been perennially popular.

In later years Ms. McCaffrey collaborated with her son on several books in the series, and, following her death, he continued to write them.

Answer: Erica Jong

This 1973 novel has nothing whatsoever to do with being afraid to get onto a plane, and everything to do with a woman deciding to explore her sexual fantasies with a man other than her husband. It is written in the first person in an almost conversational style, and it struck a chord with millions of women who felt stuck in unfulfilled marriages. Even today it is still viewed as a classic of feminist literature.

Answer: Magic Carpet Ride

The group Steppenwolf formed in 1967 and had a successful career for almost ten years. "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" were probably their two best known singles. Both gave them a Billboard top ten hit. The group broke up in 1974 after various disagreements, only to reform almost immediately.

They broke up again in 1976, and from 1977 for around three years a variety of groups using the name were on tour. Since then the band has broken up and reformed several times, having a farewell concert in 2007.