7th March Away to the British Flag

 

This game was played the day after team member Matt was laid to rest following an extremely well attended and deeply moving service in Rainow parish church. Representatives from the many walks of life that Matt trod came to pay their respects from football, refereeing, running, university days, Loreto School where he taught…. and of course quizzers from several teams in the Macclesfield Pub Quiz League. Touched with humour the eulogy read by Laura showed the deep love they shared from university, to marriage, to their beautiful sons in whom they have so much pride. Those of us who thought they knew him discovered unknown depths – he taught himself Greek, and was an exceptionally good cook of particularly Middle Eastern and North African food although he was himself a non-preaching vegetarian. The Loreto Girls Choir sang beautifully in a service that was truly a celebration of his life and achievements.

Afterwards the groups moved to the delightful country pub the Robin Hood where beers reflecting Matt’s interests were displayed on the pump clips with a wide selection of refreshments including a never to be forgotten fruit cake.

Matt was able to draw together his many interests , in particular Nick remembers that once when Matt had set the questions for the quiz he first asked them of his students to ensure that balance and difficulty were right. He is sorely missed, may he rest in peace – the world is a poorer place without him.

So the Lemmings faced up to a game against the British Flag sitting at the top of the League with promotion assured. It is a very welcoming pub and the draught Bass was in good form and the home team are old friends and adversaries. The specialist questions had been set by the Nag’s Head and unfortunately did not play to the Lemmings’ strengths as they were adrift with 43 to the Flag’s 57 by the half-way mark. They began to pull back some of the lead with the General Knowledge rounds (set by The Sutton Mutton) until the final three rounds where they took a severe beating losing with 61 to the Flag’s 82 – final score 139 to 104. There were murmurings that the nominations for the Nine-Banded Armadillo were to grow this week.

Individual scores were Bob 9/12, Wendy 6/12, Nick 6/12 and Tomo 9/12 with 7/9 conferred points, 6/4 pass-overs whilst the Flag collected 7/9 pass-overs.

Thanks are due to Alasdair the question master who controlled the game with a light touch and good humour, to the Flag landlord for an excellent selection of sandwiches and of course to the Flag quiz team who will now march off to the rarer air of the A League – we wish them luck.