Revealed - some of the faces behind the names
June 27th, 2005A full round up of pictures from the party is available at the site of Lucille de Villiers - the fiance of my son Robert and the designer of the Politicalbetting masthead.
I’m having some problems putting them on this site but this is my favourite - Sophia and Graham seeing each other’s point of view!
This has Book-Value and Robert in the foreground with Augustus Carp and Icarus at the bar.
In this one TomThumb (pink shirt) talks with Valerie while Icarus is still at the bar.
This is the famous Tabman - the site’s most prolific contributor with more than 3,000 posts.
No Politicalbetting gathering could be complete without Rik Willis - Tory candidate at Sutton & Cheam who revealed at the party that many years ago he had been a member of the SDP.
The view of almost all those who were there was that we should do it again which we will.
Thanks to Lucille for the pictures, Book-Value for organising the event and IG Index and others for their sponsorship.
Mike Smithson
MessageSpace Advertising
Some good ones there, thanks Lucille!
Blimey - you could not have found a worse picture of me!! One for the house of horrors!
Oh dear, sorry Rik - can’t please everyone
Good fun meeting all of you, and enjoyed taking the photos. May be worth brushing up on my political knowledge next time though, so that I am in a better position to settle a debate as to who is sexier - Michael Howard or Tony Blair. And yes, this did in fact come up.
” am in a better position to settle a debate as to who is sexier - Michael Howard or Tony Blair”
Charlie Kennedy is the sexier one!
Tabman is different from what I imagined.
BTW - great cufflinks Rik
Lol thnx Robert!
4 - Andrea, I hope I didn’t disappoint too much. IIRC I forewarned everyone that any pulchtritude contest was likely to result in a wooden spoon, and when faced with the “Sharp-Dressed Man” (to quote ZZ Top) that is Rik I rather threw in the towel on the fashion front too. BTW - I haven’t seen the photos as they’re spamtrapped.
Andrea - are you prechance on an exchange so based in the UK, or are you a Geographer?
Steve, Oh I don’t know…we can only imagine about Jack W ! BTW, sorry I didn’t really have a chance to gossip on your election experiences and other stuff. By then, I was rather ‘gone’ (though not yet quite in rail nationalisation mode) and rather loud in declaiming on the Tory leadership
.
Oh, and extra thanks to BV not only for organising everything so brilliantly, but for his outstanding contribution to raising the profits (and hence my pension)of Britain’s largest and most lovely oil corporation
8 - John, you are very welcome, but I won’t comment at too much length for fear of shrinking your pension.
7. I imagined you older and with grey hair. I don’t know why.
I can’t understand your last question (what does “prechance” mean?)
Crimewatch Special : Remember do not approach any of these characters , their crimes are too many and ghastly to document . These are the worst offenders , a veritable gallery of the sartorialy challenged and the follicularly deprived of the political world.
But please remember these sorts of crime are rare……sleep well and don’t have nightmares.
Shame you could not make it Jack - are you still in the US?
12 , book value . No , we wangled an earlier flight and got back last night. I see you all had a good time.
BTW has Tabman recently been released from Dartmoor or the Foreign Legion ?
Are we supposed to guess who is who or is there a key somewhere? I’m prepared to have an even money bet on which ones Sophia but that’s all!
I am in the left foreground on this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29588440@N00/21691290/in/set-504244/
15. On the left of the photo or on the left of who is watching the photo?
On the bottom left of the screen as you see it.
(and this one I am actually facing the camera http://www.flickr.com/photos/29588440@N00/21691288/in/set-504244/)
are you the one with the yellow shirt?
I couldn’t see the second link.
I think Tabman looks like one of the Mitchell brothers…..
“Rik Willis - Tory candidate at Sutton & Cheam who revealed at the party that many years ago he had been a member of the SDP.”
Rik - I seem to recall quite a few of the “conitnuing SDP” went on to join the Conservatives - are you still in contact with many? From memory I think Danny Finkelstein was SDP (I remember he was a candidate in Brent East in (?) 87).
A few others joined the Lib Dems & then joined Labour (likes of Roger Liddle).
I even know one SDP-er who stayed SDP, then joined the Lib Dems, then the Conservatives, then the Pro-Euro Conservatives and then ended up back in the Lib Dems!
No I am in the brown shirt - second link should have been:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29588440@N00/21691288/in/set-504244/
20 - I only sent them a donation and they signed me up as a member. I still have the Christmas cards I got from David Owen and Rosie Barnes! I dont know many ex SDP types. I was Tory before and since!
Does anybody know what Rosie Barnes is up to now?
I think I remember hearing she’s a Tory these days, but I don’t know the details.
21. oh, yes. I was watching in the background. :/)
You’re young. I thought (for no particular reason) you were middle-aged.
Barnes is CE of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, although I don’t know her current views.
25 - well, I try to mask my outrageous trendiness and youthful exuberance when I post here.
That’s Augustus Carp in the yellow by the way.
Oh dear- not my finest pictures- clearly the diet needs to be faced as a matter of urgency… and the tactless way all my pictures are close to the buffet also worries me
My Yellow T-shirt is from the Christian Democratic Peoples Party of Moldova.
27 , book value . You look like Dr. Who a la Ecclestone . Have you also morphed into a ex-Casanova ?
29 - LOL, I have never been likened to Christopher Eccleston before! (Sometimes to the late Charles Hawtrey, and to the bloke in early 90s sitcom “Game On”).
We were all hoping to find out what you looked like in real life, Jack…
James O, I was wondering (in some admiration) about the teeshirt. IIRC in the recent Moldovian Parliamentary elections, the most pro Western and anti Russian party was, er, the Communists. Avanti popolo.
30 - I think you look more like David Tennant (the new Dr Who). Maybe you are a mixture of both him and Christopher Eccleston.
…with just a dash of Charles Hawtrey
31. maybe they didn’t want to end like the Ukrainian (former) ruling party.
How is “avanti popolo” translated in English?
32 - I just had to google him not being up to the minute with sci-fi TV. Trivially enough, he was in “Jude”, which Christopher Eccleston starred in. Better than Charles Hawtrey anyway, or that Doctor Who who was also Worzel Gummidge.
34 - John O’s caught you out! You don’t even speak Italian and you really live in Sutton and Cheam.
36. sadly book value, I’m missing your point @36.
BV - The share price is falling again (despite $60 oil). Please a little more work, and less play ;). Now where’s the Pimms…such a glorious day
:)
37 - I was pretending to think that you weren’t really Italian and didn’t know what ‘avanti popolo’ meant… Ah well, I try my best.
39. oh, sorry. It’s my fault in failing to understand.
I studied too much this morning and I’m too tired
I didn’t know that “Avanti popolo” was so famous even in UK. Btw “The International” is better.
40 - no problem! Actually, I think the Internationale is probably better known here as well.
30 , book value . ” We were all hoping to find out what you looked like in real life, Jack . ”
They seek me here , they seek me there………….
I have to say a veiwer of this site has already claimed the £5 , but is being admirably reticent at my behest about not revealing my true identity. Can’t work for the Lobby then can they ?!??!
…….is he in heaven or is he in hell that damned elusive………
Is 17 Rik Willis? I notice no tie and jacket. Is there something we should know?
Which one is JohnO? and who is the person in yellow usually crossing frame carrying a drink?
Perhaps someone could put some names against the numbers?
43 . Roger . I’ve come to the conclusion that this lot are planning the next “Italian Job”……..any views Andrea ?
42 - so you are Lord Owen. Rik, take note!
19 - “C’mere and say that to my face, you slaaaaaaaaaaaagg!!!!”
43 John O is this gentleman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29588440@N00/21693026/in/set-504244/
I think James O is the person in yellow you mean, though to be fair I only see one shot where he’s carrying a drink - he keeps most of it off camera
47. John O is like I was expecting him to be.
JohnO doesn’t look like a Tory at all! He looks like a Lib Dem or perhaps Labour.
Maybe it’s just a flattering photo!
“He looks like a Lib Dem”… yes, flattery reaches no higher peak!
Tabman looks like a Lib Dem-but on the Provisional wing……
LOL!
Still think John O looks a lot more Tory than Rik!
Which two are number 6 and 7?
6 is Valerie, 7 is Nigel White.
6 and 7 are both male and they’re the same two people from different angles. One youngish with specs and the other a bit older?
52 , book value . I just said to Kinkell why do so many people on the site put LOL ie Lots of Love at the end of their messages. He’s just told me it’s either because the site is full of gays or pervs , or it’s because it means Laugh out Loud .
I feel such a twit , as previously I thought there were some odd goings on (perhaps there is). It puts into a slightly different perspective my preconceptions about some people !?!?!?
Have you had your renewal for Gay Times or Penthouse yet ????
LOL Heterosexually and in a deep voice you understand.
Ah sorry Roger, I stupidly didn’t notice the numbers on the actual photos and was counting off from the thumbnails. 6 and 7 are Gavin (youngish with the specs) and Mike Smithson.
57 - I like girls as it happens, but your post gave me a hearty laugh.
57.”Have you had your renewal for Gay Times or Penthouse yet ????”
no, all copies of Gay Times were sold out. They were all bought by tories MPs (Alan Duncan is still trying to reach the top shelf….). They needed to quote “Gay Times” to oppose the religion hatred bill.
David Davis didn’t read it well, so it wasn’t ready to answer John Bercow’s questions about homophobic rappers.
I can confirm that I’m No 21 (with pint in hand!).
With all these examples of “so that’s what you look like” perhaps we ought to have a competition for how old we think everybody is!
Plenty of room for (un)intententional insult here, but disclaiming any such intention I’ll have a go: in no particular order:
Mike Smithson 59, Robert Smithson 30, Book Value 27, Tabman 34, Icarus 56, Andrea 23, Jack W I think he said was 102, John O 49, A.H.Matlock 69, Kinkell 24, E.J.Thribb 16.
Hope that has not offended anyone!
Winner by sum of squares?
I am indeed 27 - very impressive, Robert.
62. You got my age right.
62 , Robert . I most certainly have not had 3 telegrams from the Queen !! My true age is known only to a select band including my bookmaker , MI5 handlers and STD clinic !!
Kinkell was 18 in April .
Only fair: if anyone wants a go at my age the only known picture on the internet is here:
http://www.buxtonfc.co.uk
‘News’ left sidebar and scroll down to between the pisture of the Bald Thug and “Peaks and Troughs”.
I’m the one clothed.
Re. 46, I didn’t know either of the Mitchell Brothers was played by Ray Winstone….
I wish I could have made it - unfortunately I’ve been suffering from a bug which meant I spent the entire weekend in bed. Not a happy bunny, I’m glad things went well tho.
Shame we missed you Bullseye, hope you have recovered now.
66 , Robert . Are you a Twickenham based asylum seeker from ” Time Team ” ? There’s definately the whiff of geophizz and linament mixed with a soupcon of tofu and slurry . I very much regret a Lib Dem gain is likely…….there’s little we can do for you…….accept your fate with dignity and give yourself over to the quiche tendency……..
65, Jack W, I’m sorry - I must have mistaken you for someone else …
I have to admit that ’til today I thought Lol stood for “lawd o lawd”.
51 - “Ay naw wur yuy luv!!!”
61 - 36 actuellement. Flattery will get you everywhere!
48, 49, 53, Harrumph. Anyway, I decided to get cropped this morning I was in a hair today, gone tomorrow sort of mood.
Thus, as old Tommy Hobbes described life in his groovy piece, “NATURAL CONDITION OF MANKIND AS CONCERNING THEIR FELICITY AND MISERY”, I now appear even more solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and very very SHORT
Ah, the venerable firm of solicitors - Saltieri, Poore, Nash, de Brutus and Short.
On the subject of lookalikes, I’ve also been likened by one of the ladies in the canteen (sadly a shadow of what it must have been in your day, John) to one of the American Idol contestants last year. I wouldn’t have minded, except he was some 17-year-old pop prodigy.
The one in photo 28 looks a bit like Bob Marshall Andrews
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29588440@N00/21704558/in/set-504244/
http://www.epolitix.com/NR/rdonlyres/65BD0EC1-F650-483A-927E-F717FA4C3619/0/bobmarshallandrewsmarsh2.jpg
75 - could easily be long lost brothers
He was on my list as Best of Breed but I wasn’t sure he was a Tory….
72: well, apart from the W family (will they move on to join Malcolm and Michael …) I’m doing pretty well. Of those who have owned up so far, years out are Andrea 0, Book Value 0, and Tabman 2.
Now, I know I’m right about John O and Mike S, and 0 or 1 at most out with AHM and Icarus (unless they were fibbing on this site, which I’m sure they wouldn’t). That only leaves Robert S; and E.J.Thribb, who, unlike any contributors on this site (??), doesn’t exist.
As Sherlock H might have said, it’s all a matter of deduction and observation - and guesswork.
78. Did you steal some info from the new ID cards database created by the government?
Andrea, 112, I wrote a longish reply but it seems to have disappeared into the trap. What could I have said about our younger generation?!
Maybe it will reappesr in due course.
This is the first chance I’ve had to check the site since I’ve been here in Sydney. Took two days to get over the jet lag! Anyhow…
Looks as though everyone a good time at the little soiree put on, I’ve been to the Star Tavern once or twice - excellent venue! Tabman’s younger than I had expected (harrumph!), Book Value and Graham are both handsome looking chaps and Sophia - now, who says the Tory Party never produces a stunner! :wink:. Who are the others not yet identified? Perhaps someone could come up with a key to identify the others?
62 - Robert: Spot on about my age, though I wish it were less. I’m certainly feeling every one of those years about now after a week spent running all over the NSW countryside (we’re supposed to be going to Uluru later this week! *groan*) How did you manage to cobble it together so accurately?
I must go now. Not sure I’ll have another opportunity to post before I get back on the 4th. Best wishes to everyone until then.
At one point in the evening, Sophia stated, rather too forcefully for my liking, that Gordon Brown was “too old” to be the next leader of the Labour Party. I took exception to this, as he happens to be the same age as me: he is, therefore, still young.
82. Augustus Carp, who are you ? Which photo do I have to look?
Wouldn’t lie about my age - Might selectively report experiences during elections - but no more than anyone else!
Robert 62. That’s a pretty dangerous game but you were spot on with me at 59 and my son Robert at 30.
81 - Enjoy the rest of your trip, AHM, and with luck you’ll be the in the country for the next party.
82 - Sorry! (Un)fortunately I can’t remember everything I said (too many glasses of wine…) but I vaguely remember something about renationalising the railway.
81 - Why did everyone think I was older??? And as for not being classed a “handsome chap” like Graham and Phil, well … [haughty toss of head]
87 - Sophia; in Vino Veritas etc etc, and you were coming out with some fairly un-Tory policy views
And your debating with Rik and John O was most certainly “robust” shall we say 
Shouting over people in a drunken state is obviously the way to go. Actually, having watched the tail end of Big Brother last night, maybe it isn’t…
88 , Tabman . “Why did everyone think I was older???…”
I think it’s the strange mix of carbolic, surgical dressings, incontinence pads and sanatogen that permeates your posts that’s the giveaway. I think we’ll have to reassess your Phil Mitchell hardman image………more Peggy Mitchell than Phil Mitchell , I think.
90 - I’m not as up to speed with poliar culcha as you are. Perhaps you’re your son in disguise? The whiff of Clearasil, White Lightning, Lynx and Kleenex provides a distinctive and heady aroma.
My grandparents still buy me Lynx for Christmas, as if convinced of my eternal youth
There must be a mannequin of me in the attic which is drenched in Old Spice.
91 , Tabman . I think you’ll find that Lynx and Kleenex are compulsory for teenage boys from 13 . Kinkell never needed Clearasil , he inherited his excellent complexion, looks and blonde hair from his mother and not much from yours truly.
92 , book value . “……..my grandparents still buy me Lynx for Christmas…”
Perhaps there’s a different message there ?!?!?
93 - I shouldn’t think so. I bathe on each Quarter Day, whether I need it or not!
94 - perhaps they’ve bough the advertising hype and are hinting that they want (more?) grand-children at some point
95 - I shan’t be competing with my sister in that department for some years, I don’t think. But maybe they want me to at least get some practice.
81 - in recognition of your shrewd flattery, AHM, here is a key to the photos. The order of names is left to right unless otherwise stated.
1: (foreground) BV, Robert Smithson
(background) Augustus Carp (David)
2: Jacky Smithson, Roger (not the “usual” Roger)
3: (foreground) BV, Robert Smithson
(background) Augustus Carp, Icarus (Stephen)
4: (middle) James O
(background) Innocent Abroad (Mike), Jacky Smithson, Roger
5: (foreground) Nigel White, James O
(middle) Thomthumb (Stuart), Valerie
(background) BV, Robert Smithson, Icarus
6: Gavin, Mike Smithson
7: Gavin, Mike Smithson
9: Icarus
10: Sophia, Graham
11: James O
12: John O
13: Jacky Smithson, Roger, Innocent Abroad
14: Augustus Carp
15: Icarus
16: Graham
17: Rik
18: Sophia, Graham
19: Jacky Smithson, Roger, Innocent Abroad
20: M de Silhouette, Gavin, Tabman (Steve)
21: Nigel White
22: Valerie
23: Icarus, Thomthumb
24: Kirov Oblast (Paul)
25: Gavin
26: Tabman
27: Icarus, Valerie, Mike Smithson
Nice to put names to faces. Sorry I couldn’t attend this time.
world cup 2006…
delicacies Dupont Lynchburg?medicinal quotas trustfulness Slavic student loan consolidation http://www.aboutstudentloanconsolidation.com/ …
mortgage brokers…
housing congresswoman perspicuous:sap,peaceful civilizations.exemplifying cue world cup 2006 http://www.ourworldcup2006.com/ …
Life Covarage…
polishes meat?brevet,Life Covarage [url=http://www.tucsonwildlife.org/#]Life Covarage[/url] http://www.tucsonwildlife.org/# …