If the names suggested by Mr Stockdill are a pointer to this new democracy, then I would rather have someone who knows how to act as Head of State rather than an individual who is elected just because he/she happens to be a celeb. However if there has to be change,then I feel with a marked degree of passion that until the Beckham's can make the time, Her Majesty should stick with the job. ________________________________ From: "roy.stockdill@btinternet.com" <roy.stockdill@btinternet.com> To: "yorksgen@rootsweb.com" <yorksgen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, 6 June 2012, 18:20 Subject: Re: [YORKSGEN] Roys Call For a Republic From:              roy.stockdill@btinternet.com > > I wasn't think of dear Boris or Alastair Campbell, nor President > Blair, either! But there are some outstanding Yorkshiremen and women who would all make a damned > fine President.....> >Snip long list of names of famous Yorkshiremen and women..... < I considered adding to the list another marvellous actor, Peter O'Toole, but there seems to be some doubt about where he was born. He was certainly brought up in Leeds as a boy but he apparently has two birth certificates - one giving Leeds as his birthplace and another as Connemara, Co Galway, Ireland. Top of my list for president had he still been with us (but sadly he isn't) would have been my all-time favourite Yorkshire novelist and newspaper columnist Keith Waterhouse (1929-2009), born at Hunslet, who of course I knew vaguely in my Fleet Street days. If there has ever been a funnier book than "Billy Liar" (and a brilliant film) I challenge anyone to tell me about it. And my wife and I saw the above-mentioned Peter O'Toole starring in Waterhouse's play "Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell" and it was the most memorable night in the theatre we've ever had! For those unfamiliar with the play, it's all about a legendary columnist and drunk called Jeffrey Bernard who frequently failed to deliver his column to the magazine that was paying him, as a result of which the cryptic message often appeared "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell" (everyone knew why, of course) and Keith Waterhouse turned this into the funniest thing you've ever seen on stage. The whole play revolves around how Bernard gets locked in to his favourite Soho pub and has to spend the night there. If it is ever produced at a theatre near you, don't miss it! -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE ..... Ancestors in Yorkshire? http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/index.html; www.ryedalefamilyhistory.org; www.wharfedalefhg.org.uk; www.yorkshireparishregisters.com; www.yorkshireroots.org.uk; ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to YORKSGEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message