Armstrongophilia

[Flosshilde]

Well of course they are - that's the point

[Flosshilde]

If Armstrongs aren't your bag, I see that there's potential in Freeman.

Alan Freeman

Freeman Hardy & Willis

to name just two.

[Flosshilde]

Or did the fact that 'Pointless' had a capital P indicate that you are making a joke, rather in the manner of a cryptic crossword clue?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Or did the fact that 'Pointless' had a capital P indicate that you are making a joke, rather in the manner of a cryptic crossword clue?

We gave one hundred people one hundred seconds to answer this question.



( ... and not one of them could be bothered. )

[Paul Sherratt]

1st Earl of Snowdon and Louis, no relation ?

[Dave2002]

We're a very talented bunch, you know, we Armstrongs. There's a lot more to us than just border reiving.

We didn't know you had a vested interest!

[Anna]

We're a very talented bunch, you know, we Armstrongs. There's a lot more to us than just border reiving.

And since this sudden outburst of Armstrongomania I have read up on Clan Armstrong and the Mangertons:
In 1587 an act was passed by the Scottish parliament "for the quieting and keeping in obedience of the inhabitants of the Borders, Highland and Isles ..." That contained a roll of Chieftains and Clans that confirms the status of Border families as an important part of Clan history, and the Armstrongs as perhaps the most significant Border Clan. The entry began, "On the border were the Armstrongs, brave men, somewhat unruly, and ill to tame ..."

[Nick Armstrong]

the Armstrongs, brave men, somewhat unruly, and ill to tame ..."[/I][/B]

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose....

[Anna]

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose....

Indeed, that's mangerton down to a T !!!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm pleased that the Armstrongfeste has been such a success.

[mangerton]

Thanks all, and especially Anna and Caliban, for your kind remarks.

As Anna has found out, there's no doubt the Armstrongs were a wild bunch, as indeed were most borderers on either side, not that any of them seemed to pay much heed to the border. The Union of the Crowns in 1603 put paid to most of their activities, as James VI wanted peace and quiet. The worst border troublemakers, including many Armstrongs, were transported to Ireland.

The most famous Armstrong, Neil, reckoned he was descended from my namesake, the most infamous; I like to think I am too!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59411788/Borders%20May04%20005.jpg

You can read (and sing!) the whole sorry tale here.

[Richard Tarleton]

I wondered idly about the etymology of Fortinbras in Hamlet, but on googling Fortinbras Armstrong found all sorts of surprising links, which I'd probably better not link to here.

[french frank]

We didn't know you had a vested interest!

You did not notice the motto 'Invictus Maneo' surmounting an upper limb?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm pleased that the Armstrongfeste has been such a success.

I would like to complain about the way this Forum has been taken over by this Armstrongathon. Armstrong is one of my favourite names, shared by many of the world's finest minds and souls; but surely in moderation, please, otherwise it has exactly the opposite result from the one intended by such exposure - it undermines the name it aspires to celebrate. Yes, lots of Armstrong, but in the context of Smith, Painter, McDonald, Beiderbecke, Watson and all those others who inspired the Armstrongs and/or were inspired by the Armstrong example. One has only to think of



(That's enough 'thon parody, Ed.)