Yorick? Alas it’s Andre . . .
QUESTION What are some of the strangest requests at funerals?
Polish pianist and holocaust survivor Andre Tchaikowsky harboured a life-long secret ambition to become an actor. he was passionate about shakespeare and was a regular audience member at performances by the Royal shakespeare Company.
After his death in 1982, his ashes were scattered in his favourite oxford park, but he had requested that before cremation his head be removed so it could be donated to the RsC to play ‘poor Yorick’ in hamlet’s famous graveyard scene.
For decades, the RsC and various actors were too squeamish to use it on stage. it wasn’t until 2008 that Tchaikowsky’s final wish was granted, when David Tennant used it in his acclaimed series of performances.
The ashes of maverick U.s. journalist hunter s. Thompson were blasted from a cannon in an impressive fireworks display in 2005.
Thompson pioneered gonzo journalism, which relied on the reporter’s personal involvement in a story. he is best known for his semi-autobiographical novel Fear And loathing in las Vegas.
he once wrote: ‘life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and wellpreserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming: “Wow! What a ride!” ’
True to his word, he ordered an explosive funeral, organised by his friend Johnny Depp at a reported cost of $3million. Celebrity attendees included sean Penn, Bill Murray, Jack Nicholson, and U.s. senators John Kerry and George McGovern. lyle lovett and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band performed, along with Tibetan drummers.
Keith Francis, Watford, Herts. i WAs at the funeral of a formidable lady swimming coach known for her sharp discipline. she always insisted that swim sessions were concluded promptly and the children were quickly clear of the changing rooms.
At the end of her funeral service, the celebrant blew a whistle and said: ‘Everyone out whether you’re dressed or not!’
Jasper Stevens, Brighton.
QUESTION What was the largest rodent that ever lived?
iN 2008, the well-preserved skull of an enormous rodent was uncovered in the san Jose Formation on the south coast of Uruguay.
The newly found species, named Josephoartigasia monesi, was estimated to have weighed one ton, based on an analysis of its 21 in-long skull.
The bull-sized mega-rodent was 20 times the size of a capybara, the largest rodent living today. it lived in lowland rainforests between two and four million years ago. Perhaps it used its massive teeth to fend off sabre-toothed big cats and giant, flightless, meat-eating terror birds.
The prehistoric mammal belonged to the dinomyidae, a rodent family. There is one surviving member, the elusive pacarana, a rare, slow-moving species weighing almost 3 st and found in tropical forests in south America.
P. T. Fletcher, Wells, Somerset.
QUESTION Is the martial arts dan system used in board games?
ThE Japanese dan ranking system is used in martial arts, strategic board games and traditional arts. The system originated with the board game Go in the 17th century and was not applied to martial arts until 200 years later.
Dan means ‘step’ in Japanese. The system was introduced by honinbo Dosaku, a Go grandmaster.
This sophisticated, logical game for two players uses white and black circular counters. The aim is to surround more territory than the opponent.
Dosaku introduced the dan system as a rigorous method for handicapping the game. he valued the highest title holder, Meijin, at 9 dan.
Go was a serious business in Japan. in the early 17th century, the four major Go houses were controlled by the government. in the 19th century,
Japanese public schools adopted the dan system as a means to rank athletic ability. Belts or ribbons were used to identify ranks. Advanced swimmers wore a black ribbon around their waist.
Dan ranks were applied to martial arts by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, the first Japanese martial art to gain olympic recognition.
he introduced the modern rank system when he awarded shodan, the lowest dan rank, to two of his senior students in 1883. he later borrowed the black belt system from swimming.
The dan system is also used for Japanese chess, or shogi, strategy games Gomoku and Renju, the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy and archery.
Oliver Besterman,