Cambridge Coincidences Collection

As of the 23rd May 2022 this website is archived and will receive no further updates.

understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.

Many of the animations were produced using Flash and will no longer work.

Well I Never!

Professor David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University wants to know about your coincidences!

Amazing coincidence

My partner, Peter, is a tax consultant, writer and lecturer. I drive him to the venue when he lectures. A few months ago I drove Peter to some offices near to Gatwick airport; he was giving an update to the tax department of a firm of accountants. On the way we were listening to Ken Bruce's show on Radio Two. Julian Lennon had picked "Hotel California" (he was choosing "The tracks of my years"). I said that although I did not particularly like the song it had a fantastic guitar solo. "Mind you", I said, "The best guitar solo EVER is by Jimmy Page in 'Stairway to Heaven'". I went on to talk about when I saw Led Zepellin in the seventies and Peter said that he was particularly envious as I hadn't just seen Led Zepellin, I had been fortunate enough to see them when the great John Bonham was alive and playing with them. We chatted more; I said that I wondered what Jimmy Page was doing now, after all, I went on, Eric Clapton is still performing and I thought that they were pretty comparable talent wise - although I supposed that Jimi Hendrix was perhaps more talented.

Same name game

Many years ago (late 70's/early 80's) I lived in Oxford and occasionally visited the Dewdrop pub in North Oxford. One night I got into conversation with a complete stranger. He said he was from Manchester, and his car had broken down nearby, so he was taking a drink while it was being fixed. As you do, I racked my brains to think of a name of anybody I might know in Manchester. Of course! One of my work colleagues was from Manchester - Barry Walker. Like a dick I asked him: 'Do you by any chance know a Barry Walker who's originally from Manchester'. 'Yes', he replied. 'My name's Barry Walker'. And that's what it said on his driving licence. Anthony Hammick Wellington, Herefordshire

I'm such a chatter

Again I was in Cyprus and went swimming in the hotel pool every day, I chatted to a women there every day, then on the last day I asked her where she was from in Scotland she said 'Hamilton' I said my daughter in law's mother lives there, in Eriskay Drive. she said 'my daughter lives at the top of that road' I described the woman as a very larger then life lady and what she looked like, the stranger said 'I know who you mean lol

Mrs Sybil B

At the end of the 19th century my grandfather was employed as Factor on Stobo Castle Estate near Peebles in the Scottish borders. Tthe estate was then privately owned. His son emigrated to Canada before WWl and I had never met or had any contact with this son's family or descendants. Last summer on 26th August, a friend and I went down to Stobo from Edinburgh, where my friend lives, so I could show her the lovely house where my grandparents lived and my mother was born. It is now a B&B and I had last been there some 25 years ago. I noticed the layout of the large garden was changed, also the driveway and entrance so rang the (original Victorian) doorbell to ask if we might look round. I explained my interest and mentioned my grandfather. "What was his name?" said the owner. When I told him he said, "Well you aren't going to believe this, but not 2 hours ago a Canadian family left here, having stayed the night, and his great-grandfather was the very same man." I was flabbergasted and of course realised that this chap must be the grandson of my Uncle (the one who went to Canada).

Ex Girl Friend

My bigest coinsidence. Meeting my Ex girl friend on the same airaplane, Traveling from Singapore to Manchester. She Had been to the Philapines. I was on my way home from a Holiday in Pennang (Malasia)

Same Consultant

My daughter was born in Liverpool, England by emergency c section, 22 months later my 2nd child was born in Stirling, Scotland, the consultant who was due to perform my section was, at the last minute, unable to do it and another was brought in. Coincidence this was the same consultant who delivered my daughter in Liverpool(250 miles away ) 22 months earlier.

Aunts from Chandler's Ford

A sales rep came to see me at work in Surrey, and she had travelled from the south west to come and see me. We were talking about people we knew, and it being a small world, and funny co-incidences, and she said "Oh yes, everywhere I go someone always seems to have an aunt in Chandler's Ford". She didn't know - but I have an aunt in Chandler's Ford! That did make us laugh!

University friends

In my second year at Bristol Poly in 1993 a man joined my course from being on a sandwich year - having undertaken a placement in his second year, whereas I was continuing from my first year. He was from Cardiff. I was from Bournemouth. We didn't hit it off to start with so we'd known each other a few months when we got round to small talk about where we were from. I said I was from Bournemouth. He said, oh I know someone from Bournemouth. And I said "Oh it's actually Ferndown - just outside Bournemouth". He said - "oh yes my friend is from Ferndown". I asked who it was, and it was my first boyfriends brother. It turned out that my Uni friend had started a Law Degree before swapping to Marketing, and had been on the same course and shared a flat with my boyfriends brother, at the same time as I was going out with my boyfriend. He knew several other people that I knew. Perhaps this is simply a small world rather than a co-incidence, but I was pretty gobsmacked!

Birth and Death coincidence

My son, Samuel, was born on the 4th October 1980 at 5:14 am. He was named without us knowing that this was also the name of his Great Grandfather (paternal side). We later discovered that his Great, Great, Grandfather (maternal side) had been killed in the first world war on 4th October 1917. When I researched the battle that he died in, I found that most of the soldiers who were killed died when they went over the top at approximately 5:15am. His wife and mother-in-law also died on the same date, 4th June, in 1912 and 1954. My mother and grandfather also shared the same birthday, 14th January.

right place at right time

About 5 years ago I was working as a receptionist at a hair salon. Every morning the postman would come in and hand the post over to me. One morning he handed ovet some letters. As I checked through them I noticed one addressed to Mary Jones at a completely different address. 'excuse me' I called out to the postman reaching over to pass the letter back 'This one's not for us' At that exact moment a lady came in and said 'appointment for Mary Jones' I asked her what her address was and sure enough it was the same as on the envelope.' then this is for you' said and handed her the letter instead.

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