Dover and Calais

Don't forget the French invasion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fishguard

 

My French teacher thought that we were actually quite similar - hence the tensions from time to time. 'The trouble with you British is you think you're the best,' she said, 'whereas we French know we're the best.'

 

Maybe your teacher had a point. Off the top of my head, I can immediately think of two examples of an anglo-french engineering partnership that produced results that were/are best in class. Concorde remains, I believe, the only supersonic passenger airliner ever built, and the eurofighter typhoon is an awesome piece of kit which although had many contributors, I believe is mostly a British and french venture. Oh, and the tunnel too. That was a clever piece of work

 

At least the Italians select reverse gear and retreat away from conflict
The French just use their Cameleon coats to change colour and thus sides as suits

Jack McH

 

Isambard Kingdom Brunel - French father

Augustus Pugin - French father



Last year, R4 did an April Fool spoof which maintained that Shakespeare was actually French. It had me going for ages.

Mustn't forget my favourite bass player - J J Burnel of that quintessentially English band, The Stranglers. Mother and father both French.