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January 31, 2008
Thursday
 
 
See more of the world by taking a dive
Johnathan Pearce (London)  How very odd! • Science & Technology

My father told me a while back that I was distantly related to Henry Blofeld, landowner and legendary cricket commentator. The Blofelds are an old Norfolk landowning family. Well, if it turns out I am related to a family that has the same surname as one of the greatest Bond villains, then maybe I should invest in something suitably sinister.

It may be cheaper than a hollowed-out volcano, if only slightly.

Staying with the Bond theme, you can now, if you have the wealth, live in a beach resort in the same part of Jamaica as Ian Fleming's old beachside home of Goldeneye. Back in 1956, during the Suez crisis, Anthony Eden, then prime minister, stayed at the Flemings'.

Comments

Apparently Henry Blofeld inspired the name of Bond's arch nemesis. Ian Fleming was looking for a name to call his super-villain, took a look down the membership list at this club, saw three Blofelds (Henry being one of them) and realised he had solved his problem.

Ah, the things you learn watching Countdown.


Posted by Patrick Crozier at January 31, 2008 10:21 PM

"One-day cricket is an exhibition. Test cricket is an examination."


Posted by JezB at January 31, 2008 10:26 PM

Thank you Johnathan for sending me off on a rather enjoyable wander. I highly recommend the PDF.

Definitely very Bondian.


Posted by Midwesterner at January 31, 2008 11:25 PM

now if you can just find out how you're related to Fred Titmus


Posted by spidly at February 1, 2008 06:54 AM

I want my Phoenix 1000 with torpedo tubes!


Posted by Perry de Havilland at February 1, 2008 10:49 AM
I want my Phoenix 1000 with torpedo tubes!

I want mine with trident missiles.


Posted by Jacob at February 1, 2008 04:01 PM

There is no way in hell I am ever going in a submarine. I try to avoid elevators as much as possible, and they aren't even submerged in water!


Posted by Alisa at February 1, 2008 04:38 PM

Missiles, on the other hand...


Posted by Alisa at February 1, 2008 04:39 PM

I just want the (Link)car.


Posted by deano at February 2, 2008 09:59 AM

Similarly, the name of Goldfinger was inspired by the architect Erno Goldfinger (e.g. the Trellick Tower), whose work Fleming detested.


Posted by Nick at February 2, 2008 08:52 PM
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