Famous, Infamous, Unfamous and Scottish Quiz

Answer: He was a commando and safe breaker

Ramensky was a cat burglar, acrobat, lock picker and safe blower. He was known as "Gentle Johnny" because when he got caught (which was on more than one occasion) he never resisted arrest. While in Peterhead Prison in 1942 he was offered release if he would undergo training and join the army. Johnny accepted the offer and, in 1944, after training, he was part of a crack commando unit who were dropped by parachute and were amongst the first to enter Rome. Johnny was said to have blown fourteen safes in one day, capturing many important documents. For his heroics Ramensky was awarded the Military Medal and given a free pardon.

But Johnny returned to a life of crime and soon refrequented Peterhead prison. He escaped and was recaptured on no fewer than five occasions. Johnny suffered a stroke in 1972 while in Perth Prison.

He was taken to hospital and died there.Johnny had made his "Great Escape".

Answer: Chic Murray

The "Tall Droll" and the "Small Doll" were Chic and his wife Maidie. Chic, or to give him his Sunday name, Charles, stood six foot three inches tall. Maidie was only four foot eleven. Together, their comedy and music made them a popular theatre and television duo. Chic went on to pursue a solo career in theatre, TV and film, with his "bunnet" on his head and his unique and surreal sense of humour.

He died in 1985 at the age of 65. In 2005, Chic was named the "Comedian's Comedian" in a poll where comedians chose their favourite and most influential comedian.

Answer: Alexander Selkirk

The true story of Alexander Selkirk's enforced stay on the island of Juan Fernandez inspired Daniel Defoe to write the book "Robinson Crusoe". In October 1704, Selkirk was left on the island by ship's captain Thomas Stradling. He had tried to get other crew members to mutiny and stay on the island because he had fears that their ship wasn't seaworthy.

The ship the 'Cinque Ports' did indeed later founder, losing most of its crew. Selkirk survived by eating shellfish and hunting and killing wild goats.

After many adventures he was rescued in February 1709. Nothing like a vacation to banish the blues!

Answer: The bicycle

McMillan is credited with inventing a bicycle, the design of which led to the modern day version. The teabag, Tetley? The safety razor, Gilette? The tin opener Edison?, I haven't the faintest idea. But I'm sure someone is going to educate me!

Answer: James, the Earl of Douglas, "The Guid Sir James"

Known to the Scots as "The Guid Sir James", James, the first Earl of Douglas, was known to the English as "The Black Douglas". He was respected and feared in the northern counties of England due to his lightning and ferocious cross-border raids. Douglas was the first lieutenant of King Robert the first of Scotland, "The Bruce".

After the death of King Robert, Sir James honoured a promise he had made to the King by carrying his heart in a silver casket to the holy land, intending to deposit it in the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem.

While surrounded by Moors, Douglas threw the casket amongst his enemies and charged after it, being killed in the resulting conflict. Douglas's body and the casket were found upon the battlefield and returned to Scotland for burial. Douglas was buried in his family vault. Bruce's heart was interred under the altar of Melrose Abbey.

The English mothers breathed a huge sigh of relief and the bairns slept easier in their beds.

Answer: Only Burke was hanged

Burke and Hare were both accused of the murders, but due to lack of evidence, the Lord Advocate, Sir William Rae, offered Hare immunity from prosecution if he would testify against Burke. Burke was found guilty and hanged. Knox was not prosecuted as Burke testified that the good doctor had known nothing of the origin of the corpses. Hare didn't hang, but he didn't hang about either, he fled Edinburgh and there are conflicting reports of his later life. Knox continued teaching and employing body snatchers to supply cadavers for his lectures.

The Anatomy Act of 1832, which increased the legal supply of cadavers along with his involvement in the murders, led to a decline in Knox's popularity and he was forced to move to London. But his career as a surgeon was ruined and he turned to writing and journalism. Nicer guys you couldn't meet!

Answer: Mary Slessor

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Mary Slessor became a missionary in Nigeria. Working among the Efik people, she earned the trust of the locals because of her strong personality and determination. She became famous for her Christianity and her promotion of women's rights.

She also successfully fought against the custom of killing twins in infancy. She was given a state burial after her death in 1915. I assume no Scottish person selected Daphne Broon!

Answer: A comic strip character.

Yep, good old Lobey is a comic strip hero. The statue depicts him with his sixgun drawn, sitting astride his faithful horse Effie. Sitting behind him in handcuffs is his captured rival "Rank Bajin". Created by Bud Neill, Lobey was a Glasgow Wild Western type character, also known as the "Sheriff of Carlton Creek". The series ran from 1949 to 1956 in the Glasgow Evening Times. The statue was erected in 1992.
There have been many "Lobby Dossers" in Glasgow, but that's another story.

Answer: They threw a carpet over his head

In September 1700 at Saint Rufus Fair in Keith, MacPherson and his band of men were ambushed by a force under the command of Alexander Duff. Duff was an enemy of his who had sworn to bring him to justice. MacPherson himself was rendered unable to fight by a carpet thrown over him from an upstairs window.

He was captured and subsequently hanged. During his imprisonment before his death, MacPherson wrote a song called "MacPherson's Lament", which still exists today. He is said to have played it on his fiddle, under the gallows before his hanging.

It is reputed that he offered his fiddle to any member of his clan who would play it in his wake. When there were no volunteers, he broke the fiddle and cast it into the crowd. It can be seen today in a museum in Newtonmore.

He is on "the fiddle" no more.

Answer: Arthur Thomson

The Godfather was violent career criminal Arthur Thompson, one time associate of the Kray twins. During his early criminal career he was said to crucify debtors by nailing them to the floor. He controlled his crime empire from two council houses in Glasgow's Provanmill district.

The houses, knocked together and modified, were known as 'The Ponderosa'. He died of a heart attack at home in 1993. His son, Arthur junior (Fatboy), didn't inherit the family business, as he preceded his father. He was shot to death outside The Ponderosa in 1991. An incident that led to two of the main suspects being executed by persons unknown, and a third man cleared of Arthur junior's murder after a 54-day trial at Glasgow High Court, costing an estimated four million pounds. Did Arthur's untimely death prevent further retaliation? I don't know but if Arthur was still here I wouldn't be so brave as to call his son "Fatboy".