So how did you get on? I don’t expect anyone to get all the answers to the quiz correct. I’m not too sure my memory is that good – and I’ve been setting the questions.

If nothing else, last week’s questions might have rung a bell and triggered discussion between various generations of the family!

Answers

1. On the night of December 6, 1796, the good citizens of Cockermouth went to bed in that township. On the morning of December 7, the next day, they woke up to find themselves living in Groton, New Hampshire, USA. The town had changed its name overnight.

2. This famous golfer was Charlotte Cecilia Pitcairn Leitch, born in Silloth in 1891 – although most people know her by her preferred name, Cecil Leitch. She made her first appearance in the British Ladies Open in 1908, when she was only 17. She represented England on 33 occasions.

3. The Tay Bridge Disaster happened on December 28, 1879. The bridge was built by Thomas Bouch to his own design for the North British Railway Company. He was one of the country’s top railway engineers. He was a Cumbrian, having been born in Thursby on February 22, 1822.

4. Thomas Edmundson was famous for being the inventor of the cardboard railway ticket when he was station master at what is now Brampton station.

5. Torpenhow is the place. Tor, Pen and How all mean head, hill or peak in the various old languages. So when you pronounce it as “Trepenna”, you still get three heads or peaks.

6. The school song of the old Workington Grammar School song has words which were penned by Canon Rawnsley: “Where Cuthbert’s body sought the sea, And Scottish Mary sought the land.” Did you know the rest?

7. This question – asking for the school song of the new Workington Academy – is an easy answer. I have made enquiries and it seems that it has no school song – but there’s plenty of time to find one, if they want to!

8. The Times of India has a local connection because of Henry Curwen, the son of Workington clergyman the Rev Henry Curwen. In 1876 he went to India to work for the Times of India . He became editor in 1880 and joint owner in 1879.

9. The Shahzada was second son to the Amir of Afghanistan. He came to Cumbria in 1895 looking to buy armaments for his country.

10. The old Caldbeck farmer was thrashed with stinging nettles to gain some relief from the pain of severe arthritis.

11. Joseph Thompson went to Carlisle Market in 1832 to sell Mary Ann Thompson, his wife. He wanted 50 shillings but in the end he sold her to Henry Mears for one pound and a Newfoundland dog – so the story goes.

12. Chris Young won the competition to write a piece of music – which was recorded by Winifred Attwell. Remember her? Who, above a certain age, doesn’t remember her recording of the Black & White Rag ?

13. Peter the Great brought in a tax on beards. He wasn’t trying to raise money – but he did wish his fellow country men to shave and look more European and more up-to-date. If our present government brought in a beard tax today, it probably would make a lot of money...

14. July 27, 1974, a sad day, indeed. On this date the last Bessemer was shut down.

15. Imagine being in an old style railway carriage, with everyone in there coughing, sneezing and even spitting on the carpet on the floor of the carriage. Cheapskate railway companies often neglected to provide spittoons in the carriages. Just imagine what sort of mess the carriage would be in. But, if the staff went to work with “Zokko”, the new wonder cleaner, the carriage would be as good as new – almost.

16. In December 1934, the new public baths were used for the baptism of converts to the Workington Apostolic Church.

17. Two potential customers of the new swimming baths were disappointed when they turned up to find out that a public bath facility had not been provided.

18. The statue of the Earl of Mayo was knocked over by a bulk liquid tanker at 7.10am on January 20, 1964.

19. The Doddler was, seemingly, a long stick with a bowl at the end – probably to collect donations. It was also used by the sexton to prod sleepy parishioners.

20. T H Routledge was talking about the Workington Model Yacht Club who used to sail their craft on Barepot Reservoir.

21. Eugene House produced sachets which were used for the perming of hair. The factory was sited temporarily in Seaton.

22. The West Cumberland Industrial Exhibition was opened by Harold Wilson.

23. The first purpose-built bus station was in Workington and opened in 1926.

24. The name of the player supposedly transferred by Workington Reds in 1921/22 for £10 and a box of kippers was Forman – if any of it is true.

25. The patron saint for people with hangovers is St Bibiana.