Basingstoke

Basingstoke is a large town in the county of Hampshire in the south of England. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 152 573. Basingstoke is a prosperous town with an above-average standard of living and low unemployment. It is a financial centre, and the location of the headquarters of the Automobile Association and Sun Life Financial of Canada (not to be confused with AXA Sun Life) in the UK. Other industries include drug manufacture, insurance and electronics.

References to Basingstoke

In the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Ruddigore, the word Basingstoke is a sort of soothing charm which Sir Despard Murgatroyd intones to Mad Margaret when she seems in danger of getting agitated, presumably an indication that the town even then was considered boring and respectable.(Although she says the word is "teeming with hidden meaning" the audience would have known better.)

Related Topics:
Gilbert and Sullivan - Ruddigore

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Basingstoke also gets a mention in Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

Related Topics:
Douglas Adams' - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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"How did we get here?" he (Arthur) asked, shivering slightly. "We hitched a lift," said Ford. "Excuse me?" said Arthur. "Are you trying to tell me that we just stuck out our thumbs and some green bug-eyed monster stuck his head out and said, Hi fellas, hop right in. I can take you as far as the Basingstoke roundabout?".

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Vauxhall promoted their Vectra car by demonstrating how well it handles Basingstoke's fictitious Mitchell's Bush roundabout, which had only 2 exits.

Related Topics:
Vauxhall - Vectra

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Even Shakespeare pokes mild fun at Basingstoke, with a line in "Henry IV" (part 2). From act 2 scene 1:

Related Topics:
Shakespeare - Henry IV

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Lord Chief-Justice: "I have heard better news."

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Falstaffe: "What's the news, my good Lord?"

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Ch-Just: "Where lay the King last night?"

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Gower: "At Basingstoke, my Lord"

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Fal: "I hope, my Lord, all's well: what is the news, my Lord?"

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