What was so great about Drake?

[jimi]

As far as I can see he was just a theiving pirate who helped keep England's cuisine poor for years. Surely it would have been better to be part of the Spanish Empire and eat paella and things than be stuck with faggots and dumplings?

 

[Evadne]

Just a minnit,

Why so critical? Wor Charlie was one of Britain's finest comedians, in his time. He left us with some great songs; who can forget "My boomerang won't come back" and other classics?

 

[jimi]

Re: Just a minnit,

Well I am pro life and anti ugly

 

[StugeronSteve]

Yeah, must have been terrifying when he boarded a Spanish ship screaming "hello my darlins", or whatever it was that he used to shout.

Most accounts of his exploits on the bowling greens were biased.

 

[Das_Boot]

Re: Just a minnit,

Just think of all that Booty. Thieving is much maligned these days we should decriminalise it. Paella is not what it is simmered up to be.
Who was Drake.

 

[Sea Devil]

Nothing wrong with faggots!

 

[Gunfleet]

Hello Mr Poo.
Pugh, Mr Drake, Pugh. Ah well. It used to make me laugh.

 

[ParaHandy]

erm ... how true and such an aposite thought for ... eg ... we would be part of a nation who receive 50% of the entire EU CFP subsidy whilst catching only 19% & 29% by weight and value respectively of total CFP fish caught and employing only 5.6% of total people employed in fishing in the CFP which amounts to a subsidy per head of 189,810 euros (over 7 years) .....

 

[snowleopard]

On sailing from Plymouth, Drake was supposed to be leading a fleet to drive off the armada but instead he turned out his nav lights and snuck off looking for prizes, plunder & booty. Piracy AND a flagrant disregard of Col Regs. Disgraceful.

 

[nicho]

He was useless down our local bowling alley!

 

[StugeronSteve]

Typical sailor really, rolling down the gutter after a night in the pub. Did he invent those bumper things that keep your balls on target?

 

[ashanta]

Didn't he cause the demise of the Labour Exchange?

 

[KevB]

On one particularly heavy booze cruise didn't he bump into New England?

 

[Joe_Cole]

He was an out and out Raggie who never set foot on a Stinkpot. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[StugeronSteve]

Dunno, some of them Spanish ships used to whiff a bit.

 

[Rustyknight]

Would faggots have managed to get up Drakes Passage by themselves? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[roborali]

As a virginal forumee /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif (is that a word?) I felt the urge to post something, somewhere and prove to myself my value as a proper man (I live in hope).

I've heard that Drake would have had a West Country accent and therefore be unlikely to call anyone 'darling', especially when he was a rufty tufty sailor and a pirate to boot /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Maybe he even spoke cornish celtic (or whatever its called) does anyone know? If he did may he could understand some of the scottish banter that goes about on this forum, if there is any crossover? At least I never understand it /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[bedouin]

Hey - I used regularly to drink in a pub about 10 yds away from a replica of the Golden Hind.

I would hesitate to sail that thing across the Solent, let alone around the world /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

At school our houses were named after famous Elizabethians; mine was "Drake" so I've always had a soft spot for the old pirate /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[StugeronSteve]

I thought that the replica "Hind" was based on a retired trawler, or such, so I bet it's been a few places that we wouldn't go!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Drake is a another case of history defining the person. His success made him a hero.

Technically he wasn't a pirate as he had 'Letters of Marque' or the equivalent to authorise his 'expedition' from the Elizabeth 1.

If he had not been successful or if he had trodden on too many toes, we would not remember him now...

We live near where he settled with his spoils and there are still locals who refer to him as 'that pirate'. I know of one who won't refer to Drakes Island in Plymouth Sound except as under its old name of St Nicholas's Island. He was aware of his civic duties and as Mayor of Plymouth was a driving force in ensuring the building of a Leat to bring water down to Plymouth.

However, he was also the first British person to sail round the world...