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Closing date March 2026

This is a cryptic style quiz question the answer of which must have a Q in it and have seven letters - 'When in Rome, Gabriel'. Quando would be when in Rome but not enough letters and no connection to Gabriel that I can find. Any help much appreciated. PS I've done the other 49 questions.

Difficult without having seen the other questions. But my suggestion would be QUERCUS or QUERCIA. Gabriel Oak was the main character in Hardy’s Far From The Madding Crowd, and those are the Latin and Italian words for “oak”.

Just a thought

That is good thinking, quisling, but it would thus be a poor clue, as there is no way to decide between the answers - presumably it's not a crossword, so there aren't crossers.

I quite agree, chrise. And no reason why it should reference the novel either. In the absence of a historic indicator I would probably plump for quercia, but it’s a thin rationale!

Roman Gabriel was a quarterback

Indeed, tyke51. But would that lead to retrauq, ie quarter back?

Maybe the back part of the name? A reach perhaps.

Although mrplumpy (chuckle) didn't state it had to start with a Q, only that it had to contain Q.

I was aware of that. I just wanted to clarify what tyke51 thought the answer should be. My point being that quarter lacked any rationale for back, so it needed to be retrauq.

These one-off questions on quizzes can be almost impossible without context. Are there literary references? How many answers began with Q? Were many obscure? Thankfully we only have five months to find out

I like your thinking, quisling, (which incidently is the solution, I think, to another of the questions/clues). Your suggested answer fits with the style of others and my wife had thought of Gabriel Oak but sadly I didn't make the connection to quercus/quercia.

The quiz is to raise money for a choir and has been set on an annual basis for many years by the husband of one of the singers. Each quiz has had a separate theme but this is his last and we've never won so this is our last chance.

There's a small cash prize which we'll donate to the choir should lady luck smile upon us.

Thanks again for your suggestion.