Author Archives: ChrisB

The final meeting of the Toastmasters year took place on the 24th June. This was the last meeting with the 2012-13 committee and Steve Cann welcomed everyone for the final time as Serjeant at Arms (thank you Joyce for the spelling pointers on that). Steve thanked everyone for their help this year and I thinkContinue reading “The End is the Beginning”

In the penultimate meeting of this Toastmasters year, Sergeant at Arms Steve started as he so often does with a story – a ghost story, but without any ghosts. It was a nice walk nonetheless. President Nick delivered some slightly sombre news about a couple of club members in difficulty before moving to the moreContinue reading “Meeting Round-Up for 10th June”

Monday the 20th May saw the holding of the Annual General Meeting. The old committee gave their reports and the committee was officially elected. Details of all the official type goings on will be circulated by our wonderful secretary in due course. As part of the AGM, Nick recognised some of the longer serving membersContinue reading “AGM Night (With Speeches of Course)”

With guest blogger (and GE for the evening) Sandra Davidson. The evening started off with our Sargent at Arms Steve Cann welcoming us and telling us about a recent visit he had to a blue bell wood.  Blue bells are Steve’s favourite and I was reminded of how much I like them too. Our PresidentContinue reading “Monday 13th May – A revealing evening”

The meeting on the 8th April was started by Mell, standing in as Sergeant at Arms and she spoke about the weekend’s Area contest where she and Julie competed. Mell thanked everyone for their support and feedback in the lead up. Both she and Julie did the club proud. Steve Cann was Toastmaster of theContinue reading “Schools, Stories and Socks”

Courtesy of Area Governor Amanda Bouch Contest season brings out the best in us … Not only do the contestants challenge themselves to prepare a stunning speech, but also the audience is amazing – such generosity of spirit and applause to encourage the speakers.  Everyone was caught up in the brilliance – and on Saturday 6Continue reading “Stunning Speeches at the Area 21 Contest”

The first official meeting of Maidenhead Speakers took place on the 7th March 1983. So that makes March our 30th anniversary month! It was fitting therefore that stand in President for the evening was Norman Rhodes, the founder of the club. He opened the meeting with the happy duty of presenting a badge to ourContinue reading “30 Years of Speaking Brilliance”

With guest blogger, Steve Cann. Monday March 11th saw the first big event of the year on the Maidenhead Speakers’ calendar – the International Speech & Evaluations Club Contest, and we were in for a memorable and eventful evening. Unusually tie-wearing Speech Contest Chair Steve Cann started with a warm-up exercise involving some amusing fridgeContinue reading “Contest Night!”

With special guest blogger Julie Farrell. The 25th of February meeting had a Chinese theme, in honour of the recent Chinese New Year.  Toastmaster for the Evening, Anita Li, explained the significance of the stacks of oranges that can be seen in Chinese homes at this time of year – they represent gold, because ChineseContinue reading “Chinese New Year in Maidenhead”

With special guest blogger Mary Fraser. Despite it being a cold, snowy evening with a serious drop in temperature, there was a very warm welcome from Nick Bailey (Club President) at Maidenhead Speakers club and Toastmaster of the evening, Ben de Candole on Monday evening. Ben highlighted the importance of a smile when giving aContinue reading “11th February Meeting”