The hands on the clock go round and round – and don’t they seem to zoom round faster and faster?

It’s that time again when I pose a few questions about what I have been writing about these past few years.

It is – for some of you – holiday time. So you might have time to get the old brain working while you slurp your morning coffee, nibble your toast – and try not to spill marmalade over this newspaper, which is never too pleasant for subsequent readers.

I can almost hear some of you indignantly spluttering that you never read the newspaper, daily or weekly, while eating your breakfast. Me, I can’t imagine breakfast without a paper to read.

So here goes:

1. December 7, 1796 was a memorable day for the residents of Groton, New Hampshire, USA. Why?

2. This famous golfer with a national and international reputation was born in Silloth in 1891. Name please?

3. We’ve heard about the Tay Bridge Disaster, probably from reading the poem by William McGonagall, who had the reputation of being one of the worst poets in the English language. What is the local connection with this tragic event?

4. What was Thomas Edmundson famous for?

5. What is the name of the local village which has a three syllable name – which offcomers invariably pronounce incorrectly – each syllable signifying the same geographical feature?

6. What was the school song of the Workington Grammar School – and, also, the former Workington County Technical College? Can you remember any of the words of the first verse?

7. What is the school song of the new Workington Academy? Do you know any of the words?

8. The Times of India is a major newspaper. Do you know what historical connection this paper has with Workington?

9. The Shahzada came to Cumbria in 1895. Who was he and why did he come to the county?

10. An old Caldbeck farmer, in the olden days, reputedly had his naked body thrashed with stinging nettles. It can’t have been too pleasant an experience – so why did he do so?

11. Over to Carlisle Market back in 1832. Joseph Thompson was selling a somewhat unorthodox commodity. What was he selling?

12. Chris Young, from Workington, was a cobbler back in 1954. But it was in that year that he won first prize in a major national competition run by The Weekend Mail. What was this competition? Details please?

13. Peter the Great introduced a rather novel tax into Russia back in 1705. What was this tax?

14. Back now to July 27, 1974! This was a significant and very sad day for Workington. Why was this?

15. If you were travelling by train in late Victorian times, why might you have been interested as whether or not the railway company made use of “Zokko” at that time?

16. Workington opened its first public baths in November 1934. It was formally opened by Tom Cape, the town’s Member of Parliament. In the December of that year, the baths were used for a non-swimming activity. What was this?

17. When the new swimming baths were opened at Moorclose, it was reported that two potential customers turned up – only to be sadly disappointed. Why?

18. Something happened to a local monument in Cockermouth Main Street at about 7.10am on January 20, 1964. What happened?

19. Who or what was the Crosthwaite Church “ Doddler?” It is reputed to date back to Victorian times. Information please?

20. Workington and Harrington had similar maritime interests back in 1934. At the Workington meeting, in 1934, T H Routledge declared that their club “should be one where seamanship came first, sails second and the boat last.” Which club was he talking about? And were you ever a member?

21. What was manufactured locally by “Eugene House?” Where was the factory situated?

22. Who officially declared the “West Cumberland Industrial Exhibition” open in 1948?

23. In which town was the first purpose-built bus station? And for extra Brownie points, in which year was it built?

24. I am still uncertain as to the accuracy of this transaction. Workington Reds, in 1921/22 sold a player to Hartlepool for a transfer fee of £10 and a box of kippers! What was the name of this player?

25. What is the name of the patron saint for people with hangovers?

I have ended with this question – for obvious reasons.

Answers will appear in next week’s edition. All the best for the New Year!