Inaccurate predictions

In April's At Work newsletter, I ran a competition asking readers to provide their favourite inaccurate predictions.

I had a lot of fun going through the answers and double-checking the accuracy of the inaccurate prediction. Several appeared more than once (most notably the allegedly misattributed quotes by Bill Gates and Thomas J Watson) and I share the frustration of many entrants that the prediction that computers would mean we only worked three days a week has not come to pass!

So on to our five winners who each receive a copy of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007. Congratulations to:

Steven Fisher, who nominated Arthur C Clarke's 1966 prediction:

"Houses will be able to fly [by the year 2000] The time may come when whole communities may migrate south in the winter, or move to new lands whenever they feel the need for a change of scenery."

Duncan Nagle, who nominated Margaret Thatcher's 1973 statement:

"I don't think there will be a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime." [Although she did add: "And it's very difficult to foresee what may happen many, many years ahead." ]

Josey Evans, who nominated Alan Hansen:

"You'll never win anything with kids" [referring to the youth team players promoted to the first team at Manchester United in 1995/96 -- the year they went on to win the Premiership and FA Cup]

Kate Phillips, who nominated Wilbur Wright:

"Man will not fly for 50 years." [He and his brother Orville successfully flew two years later.]

Graeme Denman, who nominated David Steel's quote from 1981:

"Go back to your constituencies and prepare for government."

Thanks to everyone who took part and congratulations also to the 10 winners of our "random draw" prize: Andrew Beasley, Mike Johnson, David Brooks, Stephen Mitchem, Lorrie Farrall, Bobbie Ingram, Erik Morley, Chris Warren, Bob Eadie and Iain Butcher.