Poster Profile 2: The Prof

By The Prof
July 27 2003

The Prof, co-editor of this site, trews wearer, founder member of the Surrey Temperence Society and comparison drinker gives us his profile answers.

Board Name: Prof
Age: 34
Location: Currently Russell Square otherwise Pyrford, Surrey
Occupation: Web Administrator, British Museum tour guide
Why did you choose your board name?: My Grandfather used to call me Professor because I was a bit of a smart alec. Then I did a degree and a PhD in human genetics (human genome project stuff), then went on to explaining science to the public, now I work at the University of London and give tours on ancient Indian and Chinese stuff for the British Museum so it sort of stuck.
How long have you been supporting Quins?: All my life from afar, but seriously since the late 80s and as a season ticket holder for four or five years.
How did you start supporting Quins?: It's my Mum's fault she used to watch Quins in the 50s - she still goes on about how gorgeous WPC Davis was (I can't quite see it myself).
If you play(ed) rugby what position did/do you play?: I played loose head although I did have a season at hooker too.
Best ever Quins game: That's a tricky one, the Shield semi against Newcastle up at Headingley when they had beaten us in dodgy circumstances in the Tetley Cup Final not long before; knocking Leicester out of the cup two years running; last season's wins away at London Irish and Wasps. The win against Brive and Greenwood's wonder try. And of course the Shield final.
Favourite off pitch Quins experience: Again there are so many, the party at The Stoop after the Shield Final, the trips to Caerphilly and Paris. Leading the boatrace team to victory up at Vicarage Road.
What is the most ridiculous rugby related thing you have done?: Blimey, there are thousands and most of them I can't tell anyone.
Possibly drinking two yards of white Russian in quick succession because no one thought it could be done or lifting a column of people at the Turk's Head to stick a ticket on the ceiling (that was before they renovated the pub and repainted the ceiling - obliterating years of rugby history).
Favourite Ground (after The Stoop): These days probably Adams Park
Favourite Quins Player: Another tricky question, they are a great bunch but probably Tani and Jase.
Favourite Non-Quins Player: Jon Slightholme is a good laugh but on the pitch it has to be Richard Hill.
Most likely to say?: I'm having a Pride, who else wants a drink?
Least likely to say?: Absolutely nothing during a game or "I'll have a lager please, make sure it's weak, fizzy and has absolutely no flavour"
What are your non-rugby pastimes?: Ancient oriental history and philosophy, travel, running this and the DG websites, and striving for world peace
Favourite Film(s): Casablanca, Ealing comedies, A Passage to India, Shrek, Lawrence of Arabia, the Indiana Jones Films
Favourite TV Programme(s): Men Behaving Badly, Coupling, David Attenborough stuff, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Frasier
Favourite Book(s): Anything by Lin Yutang, Robert Rankin, Rudyard Kipling or Bill Bryson and ancient Chinese classics like the Tao Te Ching or the Analects of Confucius
Favourite Music: Very varied, Motown, old (proper) rhythm & blues, blues, jazz (not modern stuff), Springsteen, Dire Straites, anything on the DG CDs, Indian classical ragas, anything sung with gusto by a large (preferably Quins, England or Lions) rugby crowd
Favourite Food(s): As you can tell from my svelte physique pretty much anything, good English food is fantastic, a good hot bacon sandwich with HP sauce takes a lot of beating too.
Favourite Drinks(s): Pride, Tongham TEA, Youngs Ordinary, Tanquaray gin & Schewppes tonic, good vodka, various types of wine, port, a good cup of tea (strong with a dash of milk).
Favourite Quotation(s): "Why us sarge?" "Because we're 'ere lad" - Zulu
The St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V and the speech at Harfleur
"Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses" - Confucius
"When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits?" - Men Behaving Badly
Favourite Place(s) to visit: Various bits of India, the British Museum, game lodges in Kenya, Malaysia, Bali, Chicago, Boston, places with jungles or forests. I still haven't visited north Africa, China or Tibet. A Lions tour to South Africa would also be fun.
When you were young what did you want Jim to Fix for you?: I think it was to go on safari
Tell us THREE things about yourself that we wouldn't know. BUT, TWO of these should be true, but ONE should be totally made up: 1. I have met His Holiness the Dalai Lama
2. I am descended from royalty
3. The blues singer, Big Time Sarah, once sat astride me in a bar in Chicago and sang 'All night long' to me

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