Further Testing

[kettledrum]

24a Queen's French degree (4) ?ess.
Is it Bess? Why?
Thanks

[kettledrum]

Well! The question worked, but the Crossword details didn't.
From Spectator 2239

[scorpiojo]

Do you want an answer? ;o)

[kettledrum]

I rather think I do!

[scorpiojo]

I don't know where French fits in..

https://www.tcd.ie/bess/

[kettledrum]

Thanks for that Jo. Very interesting.
Curiously, I am a TCD graduate & actually read Economics & Political Science. I was there in May with about 25 other EPS graduates of roughly my vintage, celebrating 50 years of certain events that happened during my time there, & heard nothing about BESS while we were there.

[scorpiojo]

^ sorry, I get Queen Bess and the degree..

[scorpiojo]

..crossed posts..where does French come in to it?

[frugalfred]

Bachelieur es Sciences (abbreviation BESS, equivalent to B.Sc.)

[Prudie]

It's very tenuous but a Bachelors equivalent in France is Licence. Poetic licence for Elizabeth 1 is Good Queen Bess

[frugalfred]

^^Bachelier - sorry, misspelt it.

[scorpiojo]

BA to Fred please :)

[kettledrum]

Thank you all very much. At the moment I'm away from home, without any sort of dictionary or other aids. Is it in Chambers, frugalfred? Whatever ... I think it's a bit esoteric.

[frugalfred]

B.Sc. (Dunelm) Dip. Ed. already, scorp.
Kettledrum - google "French abbreviation BesS"

[scorpiojo]

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=t3fLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA154&lpg=PA154&dq=bachelier+en+sciences+abbreviation&source=bl&ots=SdExkfmegl&;sig=yXrpsouUmdyG10YJn1vvQdGY14Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiA6dixm77JAhVH2xoKHUumAaAQ6AEIJTAF#v=onepage&q=bachelier%20en%20sciences%20abbreviation&f=false

[scorpiojo]

In my old Chambers as B ès S

[scorpiojo]

Lol Fred ;)

[frugalfred]

Yes, in Chambers latest edition.

[kettledrum]

Thank you all very much for your input, and for providing lots of very interesting information.