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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: exmouthcraig on April 12, 2020, 11:31:17 PM

Title: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: exmouthcraig on April 12, 2020, 11:31:17 PM
Following all the sad news about the passing of so many at the moment we sat down to dinner tonight and an age old topic of

Which 10 people dead or alive would you invite to your ultimate dinner party??

My 10 havent changed that much in the 10 years weve had this discussion..........

Clint Eastwood, great actor and producer
Michael Schumacher, F1 great!!!
Andy Rouse, BTCC great
Dick Bennets, Team principal of WSR
Fred Dibnah, steeplejack, steam & architecture enthusiast
Pete Waterman, pop mogul, railway enthusiast
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, engineering marvel
Oliver Bulleid, Railway marvel
Richard Noble, Land Speed Record holder
Frank William's, F1 marvel
Stephen Fry, very clever bloke

I invite you to list your chosen 10, not to disparage each other and argue over why you've chosen who you have. At this time spending so much at home just gives an idea as to who else we think wed enjoy spending time with


Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Bealman on April 13, 2020, 12:13:43 AM
Great thread idea!!  :thumbsup:

Now, let me think. Probably would be all astronauts, but I'll try a bit harder....  :D ;)
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 02:08:38 AM
1)timothy leary for  the after dinner fun
2)howard marks for pre dinner fun
3)Jim morrison
4)lemmy
5)alice cooper,along with the  2 above the conversation would never get boring
6)Billy Connolly great comic and story teller
7) my mate al,total top nutter of a bloke
8)al's misses ,sonia. shes one of the lads,drinks pints, swears and takes no sh** but highly intelligent
9)jesus,theirs the cold tap keep the red flowing my son
10)liz queeny windsor,someones got to do the washing up
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: jpendle on April 13, 2020, 02:18:37 AM
Tough question.
Here's my list and none of them are even dead!

Stephen Fry
Sandy Toksvig
Rick Wakeman
David Mitchell
Jo Brand
Bob Mortimer
Lee Mack
Jools Holland
Peter Gabriel
Alan Davies

Guess what we watch on Britbox  :bounce:

And only one of them likes trains!

John P
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: joe cassidy on April 13, 2020, 09:58:23 AM
I would go for :

Michael Parkinson
Barry Humphries
Oliver Reed
Chris Tarrant
George Best
Arthur Scargill
Jimmy Greaves
Iggy Pop
Julie Walters


Keith Waterhouse
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 11:16:31 AM
Good game for a Bank Holiday!

My picks (mainly because I want to meet them, no idea if they would be good dinner guests):

Stephen Fry
Sandy Toksvig

Joseph Smith (2nd in command to Reginald Mitchell, and the guy who took over the development of the Spitfire very early in its life).

Alan Turing

Tommy Flowers (telephone engineer who actually made the theory of Turing real in the form of the colossus machines. £1000 of his own money and barely recognised by the nation he helped save).

Daisy Ridley

John Boyega (mainly because footage of him on The Falcon for the first time ever is basically me. You can't fake that kind of enthusiasm).

Robert Downy Junior
Deke Slayton

Captain Les Brody (last Captain to fly a Concorde).

Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 06:29:29 PM
QuoteTommy Flowers
Looks like im doing the washing up,sorry liz
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 07:02:01 PM
Quote from: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 06:29:29 PM
QuoteTommy Flowers
Looks like im doing the washing up,sorry liz

Go on then, what's that mean?

Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: TrevL on April 13, 2020, 07:03:59 PM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 11:16:31 AM
Good game for a Bank Holiday!

My picks (mainly because I want to meet them, no idea if they would be good dinner guests):

Stephen Fry
Sandy Toksvig

Joseph Smith (2nd in command to Reginald Mitchell, and the guy who took over the development of the Spitfire very early in its life).

Alan Turing

Tommy Flowers (telephone engineer who actually made the theory of Turing real in the form of the colossus machines. £1000 of his own money and barely recognised by the nation he helped save).

Daisy Ridley

John Boyega (mainly because footage of him on The Falcon for the first time ever is basically me. You can't fake that kind of enthusiasm).

Robert Downy Junior
Deke Slayton

Captain Les Brody (last Captain to fly a Concorde).

Skyline2uk

That's eleven :smiley-laughing:
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 07:12:51 PM
QuoteGo on then, what's that mean?

see my no10 on my list
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: emjaybee on April 13, 2020, 08:17:57 PM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 11:16:31 AM

Tommy Flowers (telephone engineer who actually made the theory of Turing real in the form of the colossus machines. £1000 of his own money and barely recognised by the nation he helped save).

Skyline2uk

He wasn't completely forgotten. On part of the old Bletchley Park site, they built a housing estate, and in there they built a care home specifically geared up for people with dementia. It was called 'Flowers House' after the man himself. My grandfather was a resident for a few years before he progressed to a nursing home.
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: guest311 on April 13, 2020, 08:32:36 PM
I think I would have to go for some of the guys I've served with but lost touch with,

names would probably not mean anything to anyone, but

a couple of instructors from RAFP QPD course
several guys from Ballykelly, both snowdrops and fur box mechanics
same from Muharraq
and Waddo, though I can think of one person I would deffo slam the door on.
and several from Brize...

probably need more that 10 seats, but all people that I liked / owed / respected.

sorry, no celebs on the list,
but if @ exmouthcraig wanted to turn up and pass on some of his skills, and maybe a lamb, mmmmmm
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 08:36:33 PM
 :helpneededsign:
Quote from: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 07:12:51 PM
QuoteGo on then, what's that mean?

see my no10 on my list

Ohhhh with you now lol  :thumbsup:

Skyline2uk

@TrevL (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=5583) : Taxi for Trev  ;D

Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 08:39:53 PM
Quote from: emjaybee on April 13, 2020, 08:17:57 PM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 11:16:31 AM

Tommy Flowers (telephone engineer who actually made the theory of Turing real in the form of the colossus machines. £1000 of his own money and barely recognised by the nation he helped save).

Skyline2uk

He wasn't completely forgotten. On part of the old Bletchley Park site, they built a housing estate, and in there they built a care home specifically geared up for people with dementia. It was called 'Flowers House' after the man himself. My grandfather was a resident for a few years before he progressed to a nursing home.

Oh that's something I suppose (sorry about your Grandfather, hope he had as nice a time there as possible) and I am aware Tommy did get awarded £1000 by the government / nation. It's just that his story isn't as well known as Turnings and he wasn't allowed to talk about his work.

Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 08:43:32 PM
The talk of flowers  and turing makes me wonder what dinner would be like with those two along with babage and ada lovlace
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: exmouthcraig on April 13, 2020, 08:47:21 PM
@class37025 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=311) I dont know what skills I have to pass on  :hmmm:

I could bring Lamb, Beef, potatoes and a few slabs of Carling if this years harvest goes to plan  :D
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: dannyboy on April 13, 2020, 08:49:25 PM
I am waiting for Mick @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) to come up with his list - Julia Roberts plus 9 clones maybe?
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 08:50:31 PM
Quote from: themadhippy on April 13, 2020, 08:43:32 PM
The talk of flowers  and turing makes me wonder what dinner would be like with those two along with babage and ada lovlace

Probably way above my head, but now you mention them Babbage and Ada were apparently quite the socialites in their day (especially Babbage when he was well connected, he held his own dinner parties with the likes of Brunel).

Skyline2uk 
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: emjaybee on April 13, 2020, 08:51:28 PM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 08:39:53 PM
Quote from: emjaybee on April 13, 2020, 08:17:57 PM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 11:16:31 AM

Tommy Flowers (telephone engineer who actually made the theory of Turing real in the form of the colossus machines. £1000 of his own money and barely recognised by the nation he helped save).

Skyline2uk

He wasn't completely forgotten. On part of the old Bletchley Park site, they built a housing estate, and in there they built a care home specifically geared up for people with dementia. It was called 'Flowers House' after the man himself. My grandfather was a resident for a few years before he progressed to a nursing home.

Oh that's something I suppose (sorry about your Grandfather, hope he had as nice a time there as possible) and I am aware Tommy did get awarded £1000 by the government / nation. It's just that his story isn't as well known as Turnings and he wasn't allowed to talk about his work.

Skyline2uk

The place looked after my grandad very well. It was an amazing place.
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 08:55:15 PM
QuoteThe place looked after my grandad very well. It was an amazing place.

Glad to hear that  :thumbsup:


Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: guest311 on April 13, 2020, 09:00:32 PM
Quote from: dannyboy on April 13, 2020, 08:49:25 PM
I am waiting for Mick @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) to come up with his list - Julia Roberts plus 9 clones maybe?

no just 8 clones plus one other, he'd want some variety, I'd imagine
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: guest311 on April 13, 2020, 09:03:04 PM
Quote from: exmouthcraig on April 13, 2020, 08:47:21 PM
@class37025 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=311) I dont know what skills I have to pass on  :hmmm:

I could bring Lamb, Beef, potatoes and a few slabs of Carling if this years harvest goes to plan  :D

YOU ARE INVITED  :beers: :thumbsup: :food:
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Newportnobby on April 13, 2020, 09:42:51 PM
Quote from: dannyboy on April 13, 2020, 08:49:25 PM
I am waiting for Mick @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) to come up with his list - Julia Roberts plus 9 clones maybe?

@dannyboy (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=4209) Go to the bottom of the class. Julia Roberts indeed. Pah! Liz Hurley and her 8 clones (plus me makes the ten) would have something to say about that.
The prandial conversation would possibly be incredibly boring but the after dinner party would be to die for (probably literally) :)

Edit: Hold on, I've just realised I can have 10 guests so that's 9 clones then :claphappy:
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: exmouthcraig on April 13, 2020, 09:44:26 PM
@Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) no Coxy then??? :no:
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Newportnobby on April 13, 2020, 09:47:05 PM
Oh - all right then - 8 clones and a Coxy :laugh3:
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: dannyboy on April 13, 2020, 10:04:25 PM
@Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264)
My sincere apologies Mick. I had 'that' picture of Liz wearing 'that' dress in my head when I posted my comment - no idea where Julia came from.  :-[
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: acko22 on April 13, 2020, 10:08:16 PM
Hmm bit of fun although the idea of me hosting a dinner party......hope they like crisps for starters, microwave meal for mains and Haribo for desert  ;D

So my 10:

1) Werner von Siemens (One of the founders behind the company)
2) David Stirling (Founder of what is today known as the SAS)
3) Dave Grohl (Of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame)
4) Sir Sean Connery
5) Dr Richard Beeching (Yes that Dr Beeching)
6) Chris Tarrant
7) Roger Daltry
8 ) Prince Philip (Come on the bloke is mental you never know what he is going to say, its only a matter of time before he says something!)
9) Jodie Comer (enough said)
10) Scarlett Johansson (again enough said really)

It would be a complete shambles but a ready supply of booze makes every situation better!!  :D
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 10:23:11 PM
Quote from: acko22 on April 13, 2020, 10:08:16 PM
Hmm bit of fun although the idea of me hosting a dinner party......hope they like crisps for starters, microwave meal for mains and Haribo for desert  ;D

So my 10:

1) Werner von Siemens (One of the founders behind the company)
2) David Stirling (Founder of what is today known as the SAS)
3) Dave Grohl (Of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame)
4) Sir Sean Connery
5) Dr Richard Beeching (Yes that Dr Beeching)
6) Chris Tarrant
7) Roger Daltry
8 ) Prince Philip (Come on the bloke is mental you never know what he is going to say, its only a matter of time before he says something!)
9) Jodie Comer (enough said)
10) Scarlett Johansson (again enough said really)

It would be a complete shambles but a ready supply of booze makes every situation better!!  :D

That MUST happen and it MUST be filmed!

I suspect I would die laughing, but would be worth it....

Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Bealman on April 13, 2020, 10:52:38 PM
At least you could talk model railways with Roger Daltry
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: LASteve on April 14, 2020, 02:55:12 AM
So, ten guests plus myself and the lovely project manager. I'll be cooking. Please advise of any dietary restrictions in advance.

Sean Connery (SWMBO would kill me otherwise). Olivier Giroud as a stand-in if Sean can't make it.
Audrey Hepburn
Anthony Bourdain. He can expedite if I get in the weeds in the kitchen.
Michelle Obama
Bill Bryson
Lady Gaga
Harold Evans, ex Sunday Times editor. His dad was a locomotive driver based out of Newton Heath, which is a bonus
Princess Margaret
Brian Greene, physicist and author, and the only person to explain quantum theory by reference to Homer Simpson and Springfield.

... which leaves a place spare for one of the forum members, to be decided by a drawing of straws. We're unbalanced on the distaff side, so I might rig the straws :)
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Newportnobby on April 14, 2020, 09:45:28 AM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on April 13, 2020, 10:23:11 PM
Quote from: acko22 on April 13, 2020, 10:08:16 PM
Hmm bit of fun although the idea of me hosting a dinner party......hope they like crisps for starters, microwave meal for mains and Haribo for desert  ;D

So my 10:

1) Werner von Siemens (One of the founders behind the company)
2) David Stirling (Founder of what is today known as the SAS)
3) Dave Grohl (Of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame)
4) Sir Sean Connery
5) Dr Richard Beeching (Yes that Dr Beeching)
6) Chris Tarrant
7) Roger Daltry
8 ) Prince Philip (Come on the bloke is mental you never know what he is going to say, its only a matter of time before he says something!)
9) Jodie Comer (enough said)
10) Scarlett Johansson (again enough said really)

It would be a complete shambles but a ready supply of booze makes every situation better!!  :D

That MUST happen and it MUST be filmed!

I think only Tarantino could do it justice ;D
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Philip. on April 14, 2020, 09:57:11 AM
Here goes  ;)

1 - Muhammad Ali
2 - HG Wells
3 - Brian Wilson
4 - David "Bumble" Lloyd
5 - Mark Hamill
6 - Dr Hannah Fry
7 - Professor Brian Cox
8 - John Cooper Clarke
9 - God [I need answers]
10 - Emilia Clarke [she can stay after the others have gone  ;) :heart2: :heart2: :heart2:]
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: Jon898 on April 14, 2020, 01:33:03 PM
Quote from: acko22 on April 13, 2020, 10:08:16 PM
Hmm bit of fun although the idea of me hosting a dinner party......hope they like crisps for starters, microwave meal for mains and Haribo for desert  ;D

So my 10:

1) Werner von Siemens (One of the founders behind the company)
2) David Stirling (Founder of what is today known as the SAS)
3) Dave Grohl (Of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame)
4) Sir Sean Connery
5) Dr Richard Beeching (Yes that Dr Beeching)
6) Chris Tarrant
7) Roger Daltry
8 ) Prince Philip (Come on the bloke is mental you never know what he is going to say, its only a matter of time before he says something!)
9) Jodie Comer (enough said)
10) Scarlett Johansson (again enough said really)

It would be a complete shambles but a ready supply of booze makes every situation better!!  :D

Somehow the image I have of this is of #8 seated between #9 and #10, both of whom are giggling like idiots.  #4 leans over to #10 and asks "Excuse me dear, are you feeling hysterical?" to which she replies, "No, he's feeling mine!"  ...sorry, too much Billy Connolly in my youth.

Maybe it's a sign of the state of this hobby, but has anyone else noticed the paucity of female guests (except for Mick's list of course)?

Jon
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: LASteve on April 14, 2020, 05:46:09 PM
Quote from: Jon898 on April 14, 2020, 01:33:03 PM

Maybe it's a sign of the state of this hobby, but has anyone else noticed the paucity of female guests (except for Mick's list of course)?


Not so, I've got the Project Manager, four other women and a spare seat for @Ditape (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=3799) to balance the numbers.
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: grumbeast on April 14, 2020, 05:48:43 PM
This is a great mental exercise

Not really enamoured of famous people or royals but how about

1. Carl Sagan (because he inspired me to gaze up at the heavens and just be awestruck)
2. Hedy Lammar .. because damn.. Beautiful movie star and co-inventor of frequency hopping spread spectrum communication
3. Ada Lovelace (one of my heroes!.. Babbage described her as the 'Enchantress of numbers')
4. Saladin (not sure why.. just might have a very interesting perspective on things)
5. Douglas Adams . cause the hitchhikers guide is as close to a religious text as I get!
6. Hypatia (last librarian of Alexandria)
7. Eddie Izzard . Funny and Smart
8. Rudolph Nureyev (had an incredible career and hope to get some tips for my daughter!)
9.Tommy Douglas (father of Canadian Medicare)
10. Svetlana Savitskaya (I wanted an astronaut .. doesn't have to be a guy)
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: joe cassidy on April 15, 2020, 12:38:28 PM
I would replace Carl Sagan by Patrick Moore  :D
Title: Re: Ultimate 10 guests to your dinner party
Post by: OffshoreAlan on April 15, 2020, 04:17:37 PM
1. William Shakespeare - to ask him whether he did write all "his" plays, and what he was doing during the historically "missing years"

2. Jane Austen - for her wit, and to discover what she really looked like

3. Ernest Marples - to berate him for decimating Britain's railways to benefit his road-building Company, and to rebuke him for his cowardice in using Beeching as the fall guy.

4. Audrey Hepburn - for her looks, and to discuss her later work for UNICEF

5. My Dad - to discover what sort of guy he was - I last saw him when I was 5 weeks old when he left for the Western Desert. My only contact since being an "army wartime" birthday card in 1944, and a visit to his grave in Rome Military Cemetery in 1985. Lest we forget.

6. Halle Berry - to discuss her role in Dorothy Dandridge, and how (or if) Hollywood attitudes have improved since Dorothy's day.  Alternative guest would be Dorothy herself.

7. Victoria Wood - taken too soon - for her wonderful observational wit.

8. Alan Bennett - for his unique wit.

9. Aneuran Bevan - for founding the wonderful NHS

10. Caryl Churchill - to compare my choices with those in her entertaining play "Top Girls"