The 2nd Annual Chris Flack meet up.

About 12 months ago 3 people with the name ‘Chris Flack’ meet up in London, inspired by the book ‘Are you Dave Gorman?’ To read about this meet up click here.

Prologue

It was early January 2010 and I had an email from a stranger asking if she could purchase some photos I had taken at a gospel choir recital in Belfast. Firstly I was very honoured that she thought I was a professional photographer but I was slightly confused. I have never been to a choir recital in Belfast. So I asked if she could send me the link to check that I hadn’t ‘just forgotten’ about this. Sadly it wasn’t me she had the wrong Chris Flack. I replied telling her about my mission to meet different Chris Flack for a laugh. 

“That is so funny!.. What happens if you meet a Chris Flack who is a girl? Or worse, what happens if you meet a Chris Flack who is gay? Will they not be allowed into the Chris Flack Club? I think you've just embarked on a potentially fascinating social experiment - imagine Glastonbury 2015: The Chris Flack Tent. So good luck and I look forward to hearing more about the Chris Flack's of the world!!

Now that’s the kind of enthusiasm I expect from random strangers.

The search

All this had reminded me that it was nearly a year since the original Chris Flack meet up. So I got my act into gear and contacted nearly all the Chris Flack’s on facebook – with the aim of getting another to join us for the second annual ‘Chris Flack meet up’.

I then sat by my computer, pressing the refresh button every couple of seconds with anticipation of messages from people with the same name as me (which could get facebook all confused causing it to crash and completely ruin the life of over 400 million users in the process). 

The replies 

Chris Flack Melbourne informed me that he lived in Melbourne Australia and his father had immigrated with his family after the war from Egypt. His grandfather was actually Austrian born in Trieste. Interesting family history but it doesn’t really help me in the quest to meet more of my namesakes.

Chris Flack Louisiana said it would be too far to swim to London. What happened to the ‘Chris Flack can do attitude’.

I heard from Chris Flack Maryland – he runs a promo/production company that put on raves. He told me a great story about how because he has the same initials as his father he always gets good credit.

I then had a reply from a 13-year-old Chris Flack who said he was too young to go to London. I quickly replied ‘thankyou for the email. The conversation ends here.’ Not one wants to get in trouble for cyber stalking young boys on facebook, do they!

I found out Chris Flack’s come from all corners of the globe including Australia, South Africa and the east coast of America. They all share one common bond – they would come to the meet up if I brought them a ticket. My reply was simple, if I won lotto I would.

The 2nd Annual Chris Flack meet up. 

I was glad that we had chosen Saturday 13th February, as Sunday was Valentines Day. I may have done some slightly weird things in my life but I think meeting two other Chris Flacks on Valentines Day would just be too weird. We had arranged to meet outside Nike town in the middle of Oxford Circus. A brilliant idea if I must say myself as it was packed with people, raining and just a really bad place to meet. As usual I was late (another Chris Flack trait that only seems to apply to me). After a few man hugs we where on our way. I lead this band of Chris Flacks through the busy streets of Oxford Circus to a cheap and friendly local pub – The Blue Post.

This pub is part of the Sam Smith brewery chain of pubs and has some of the best prices for pints in central London. Using my favourite trick from my University days – I made sure I was the one to buy the first round of drinks. Because as everyone gets drunker they don’t remember who brought the most recent round but they do remember who brought the first one – Nice one Flack. 

So now as the alcohol was starting to kick in we all started to chat. It was like being with a group of old friends (except the only thing we had in common is our names). I reckon everyone wants to know what have the Chris Flack been up to in the last 365 days…

How was the last year for Chris Flack?

‘2009. There’s a year none of us will forget in a hurry – swine flu, MPs’ expenses, Michael Jackson, Obama’s inauguration, Peter leaving Katie… financial doom and gloom…’ (from the DBA, year in review)

Chris Flack Surrey (Formerly known as Chris Flack Oxford). Will soon be Chris Flack Japan if he gets his visa approved. He has an interesting year just failing one of his papers and having to resit it – all with the aim in improving the average IQ of Chris Flack’s around the world.

Chris Flack Isle of Man. Decided to call all New Zealanders ‘Diet Australians’ to my disapproval. Got asked to leave his last job because his use of the English language was deemed too energetic.

Flack Coat of Arms

There was a apparently a Flack coat of arms. I couldn’t hold back my excitement – finally a coat of arms. I really hope it has a dagger or dragon on it. That would be amazing. I asked if I could see an image of it. As always Chris Flack’s are prepared and at that moment Chris Flack Isle of Man pulled out his iPhone and showed me the website.

Man was I disappointed, not a dragon, dagger on anything remotely dangerous. Just what seemed to be half a helmet from a suit of armour. What use would that be in the middle of battle - dam it.

This website was also where Chris Flack Isle of Man had found an more update meaning of Flack - "Dweller in a field of flagstones". And that brings us to the topic of the famous flacks. We couldn’t think of any new ones so I informed everyone off my anonymous email tip-off from another Chris Flack: “Don't forget about the famous children's author Margaret Flack. You can find her works on ebay and the net. And Jack Flack from the movie, Cloak and Dagger…”

The Dave Gorman inspired crazy question section.

What is the craziest thing you have ever eaten for cash?

Chris Flack Isle of Men once snorted KFC popcorn chicken for fun. Chris Flack Surrey stated, he ‘generally just eats for survival’ (kind of like the 4.2 billion people on earth – congratulations). And in the name of research I found out that Yes all the Chris Flack’s would try and correct there sideburns if they shaved one of them slightly wrong.

We had another pint and took the complimentary photo and decided it was time brave the British winter and get something to eat. Chris Flack Surrey knew a great place in Chinatown so off we went.

The rest of the night went past in a blur – some of the highlights.

An 20 course Chinese meal – where we had a long discussion about if Christine Flack’s should be allowed along. Imagine if a Chris Flack and Christine Flack fell in love – at least they would never have to argue about whether she would take the family name. 

Then there was the chat up line games at the Coach and Horse Pub. These games where meet with varying degrees of success. One of the Chris Flacks was very good – which led to some very funny conversations involving scarf’s, Sex and The City characters and The Simpson’s.

Then just like that it was time for the last tube. The 2nd Annual 'Chris Flack meet up' was over. It was weird saying goodbye as these people now felt like old friends not just namesakes. We all resolved to try and recruit another Chris Flack for the next meet up in 6 months time, settle the argument if Christine Flacks count (if you can shorten it to Chris Flack then it counts - we are getting desperate now) and find the answer to life’s greatest mystery ‘which Chris Flack is the best at Connect 4?’