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Rule Britannia: so we might have allowed the USA to declare independence back in 1776, but y’know what? We have an actual club for companies that are over 300 years old, and still in the hands of their rightful owners. America, you could be both those things if you hadn’t thrown a stroppy fit at us way back then.
It’s called the Tercentenarian Club, and it’s got barely a dozen members. You’ve probably only heard of one of them — Fortnum and Mason — but they span a wide range of industries, including including a wine merchant, a butcher, a hat maker, a ribbon manufacturer, a builder and boatyard owner. Somehow, there’s even a candlestick maker. But if you can tell me how a candlestick maker can be surviving in 2013, you’re a cleverer man than me.
If you needed any more proof that Awesome Britain still survives, this is it. Screw David Cameron’s Big Society. Screw Labour’s One Nation Party. Stuff like this is why we’re British and proud. Anyone for crumpets, tea and giving the French a jolly good thrashing? [Telegraph]
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I feel like I just got trolled by reading this post. If this is what business post will be like, then I can’t wait fo- zzzzzzzzz…
You do know that factoid means “an myth that is commonly believed to be true” and not “a small fact”, right?
We go by the second definition on both these sites:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factoid
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/factoid
The second definition has only been forced into existence because people were using it incorrectly.
If a word has two diametrically opposed meanings, one of them must be wrong!
I’m not going to argue the semantics here; if it’s in the dictionary, we’re usin’ it.
Fair enough, and every time you do I’ll have no idea of whether the article is true or not since you appear to think it could mean either…
Let’s just assume it’s the latter definition, considering my aforementioned stance on it.
I’m up for a cuppa followed by giving some French crumpet a damned good thrashing…
I think one of the best things about English people is their modesty and mastery of understatement…..Ah.
Oh and their command of the English language, using the right words in the right place such as fact….Oh.
Thanks for proving these stereotypes wrong Chris. Clap.Clap…Clap
I heard the Tercentenarian Club invented birthdays, romance, and powers cuts, just to keep that candlestick maker in business. They’ve got quite a reach.
It’s fairly incredible to have a company last +300 years. Just imagine if you were the sap who ran it into the ground!
Sloppy work, 20 seconds search brings up http://www.economist.com/node/3490684 and the UK seems to have 9, and there are plenty of French members as well. Attacking both France and America in one post, got any problems with foreigners?
That was in 2004, before the recent rule changes that allowed F&M, among others, to slip in.
I don’t think Chris, like most people, have a problem with foreigners. But Like most, he may have a problem with “uptight, loud, abrasive, annoying, self-centred idiots with a strong Superiority complex” i.e. Americans and the French.