TMV Spring 2021

The National Association of Toastmasters

TOASTMASTERS’ VOICE TMV Spring 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Colleagues and Friends.

You will have seen this photograph in the last edition of TMV. I have included it again, not only because Gillian says it is good to see me in something other than my slobbing around the house trousers, but to remind everyone to keep smiling!

How many would have even got close if we had tried to predict what would happen around this time last year as we started 2020. Since our last

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TMV, the Covid situation dominates the news, our daily lives and also, critically, our business.

Many families, including ours, have faced dreadfully sad bereavements due to Covid and my heart goes out to you all. I hope that everyone is doing all they can to keep themselves safe and to keep themselves amused. This is obviously proving much harder this time around as the winter weather clearly limits our choice of activity. However, this is still a crucial time to follow the rules, keep socially distanced, wear masks, and wash hands. Please continue to do

whatever you can to help beat this pandemic or, at the very least, mitigate its effects.

I am delighted that our Secretary, Michael Myers, has been appointed to the National Weddings Taskforce which aims to represent the 400,000 people across a huge spectrum who are involved in the wedding business, all of whom have been massively affected. Through Michael, we believe that the NAT is the only toastmaster association represented on this body - thank you again Michael. If you did not see previous messages, this Taskforce is in regular contact with MPs, including at ministerial level, to fight the corner for the industry. We are all desperately keen to get back to work at weddings and corporate events but my plea to you all is that we do so responsibly and safely.

At a recent Executive Committee meeting we discussed whether the NAT President should nominate a charity for his or her year.

It was stressed that the NAT is not a charity organisation but I reported that I had been considering trying to raise enough money to sponsor a taxi in the annual Magical Taxi Tour in 2022. This would not only support an amazing project but would also raise the profile of the NAT with the general public when they see a taxi in a mile long convoy with the NAT emblem emblazoned on the side. I have included a piece on the Magical Taxi Tour elsewhere in this edition and you should keep your eyes peeled for more information.

Before the current crisis, I, like so many, thought that Zoom was something we did in fast cars if indeed we have one. Now Zoom meetings are a big feature of our daily communication with family, friends, colleagues and clients. I hope that you have all enjoyed the NAT Zoom programme and I would like to publicly thank all of those who have presented these talks for us and also everyone who has attended. It has also been very good to be able to have our regional meetings via this forum and for the time being that will continue.

Indeed in many ways the whole of Christmas was rather strange! I am delighted to say that planning is already well under way for the Christmas Lunch this year and we are hoping to be able to share a fabulous function in the best traditions of the NAT. (You may wish to pencil in the 13th December 2021).

I also reported that we had to cancel our toastmaster weekend in March 2021. These are great value, fun affairs and the team are hard at work getting ready for another great weekend next year. Please be on the lookout in TMV, Facebook and Whatsapp for information about these two things.

Another traditionally held social event has always been the President’s summer social. We do not know what rules will exist in the summer about gathering with one another but if we can we will certainly try to find a way to get together and enjoy one another’s company safely. Any great ideas from you would always be welcome.

Even better would be for someone out there to offer to arrange something for us to enjoy.

I have organised a day out which I am confident we will be able to do lawfully and safely which is on the 21st of April and I am sure that you will find the advertisement in this TMV. I would love it if you could join us.

Finally, may I remind you all that the essay competition is up and running and I wish you all success (although there can only be one winner!)

This is the first edition of TMV in 2021 and I will close my report by wishing you all good health, good luck and good business in this strangest of New Years.

Peter Thompson President

The Zoom programme will be continuing and dates are shown in this publication. If any of you would like to present something at a future session which may be interesting, informative or educational, or even simply FUN, do please let me know.

In my last report to you all I said that we had to reluctantly cancel the Christmas Lunch.

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08 - NAT Event Fly fishing day at Brick Farm Lakes near Herstmonceux

18 - Fundraising Children’s Magical Taxi Tour to Disneyland Paris

TMV Contents 04

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22 A Toastmaster makes the difference (TMV Story) Tim Podesta

Editor introduction and miscellaneous information

08 What did you do in the war grandad?

Invitation to a fishing day at Brick Farm Lakes near Herstmonceux, Sussex – Peter Thompson

10 It takes years of experience!

Malcolm Gerdes-Hansen

24 Once upon a time (TMV Story) Janice Dorn

26 The Travelling Cats (TMV Story) Vanessa Saward

12 Facebook interview with the Wedding Guru Richard Gray

14 2020 and all that!

Rodger Oatley

18 The Children’s Magical Taxi Tour Peter Thompson

20 Toastmasters are willing to lend a hand (TMV Story) Tony Forward 20 - Toastmasters are willing to lend a hand.

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Welcome to the new look TMV. I hope that you will enjoy reading this winter publication.

You will see that we are trying to produce a product that has a greater photo content. So please when submitting an article, where possible, send accompanying photos.

The magazine is very dependent on contributions from members and their families and I thank all those who have contributed to and supported this edition.

Another way you will be able to stay up to date with NAT news and documentation is by joining Team App. You will see the joining instructions on the opposite page.

You will also see that two useful website links have been placed. One gives you a Wedding Report for 2021 and the other explains the Wedding Taskforce and their latest news.

I have been pleased with the response to the ‘700 Word Story Competition’. Thank you to all those who have put in an entry. I have not published all the stories, as the competition extends over all editions of this year’s TMV. Remember the winner will receive a pair of tickets to this year’s Christmas Dinner.

Finally, you are all likely to have been at an event where there was a caricaturist. If so, please send in the caricature and a photo of yourself for the next edition.

For a bit of fun, we can then see if we can match the caricature to the photo. If you have a story to go with the drawing even better.

Please see on the opposite page a screen shot of the header for the current Facebook Group. If the header on your NAT Facebook Group is not this one, delete it and join this group. This is an internal group for general catch up and communication.

Happy reading!

Richard Mitchell Editor

Dates for the diary Zoom Talks/events Tuesday 16th March Civic and Ceremonial presented by a ‘Warden of the North’ Wednesday 14th April Church events presented by the ex-Clerk of the Diocese of Europe Monday 10th May Corporate events and working with banqueting teams presented by Hon. Member Andrew Coy.

Executive Committee Meetings.

19th April 7th June 13th September

Social Matters.

Wednesday 21st April A day in the countryside (and fishing).

Wilkins See article in this TMV.

Save the date

Monday 13th December **Christmas Lunch **

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Micawber

Make sure that you NAT Facebook Group header looks like this

If you have not already TeamApp. Here are the joining instructions.

Articles For Sale

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Email: ToastmasterRodger@gmail.com

Essential Wedding Industry Links UK Wedding Report by Bridebook – go to the bottom of the page to download the free report. https://bridebook.co.uk/article/bridebook-uk-weddingreport-2021 UK Weddings Taskforce https://ukweddings.org/

Send in your caricatures and photo for the Spring edition of TMV

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Brick Farm Lakes

‘What did you do in the war grandad?’

I can vividly remember sitting with my grandfather as

a young boy and talking about ‘What did you do in the war?’ I wonder if in future times we will be asked ‘What did you do during Covid’ We have all been savagely affected in our businesses so I could not say I have been working. However, I could easily suggest ‘I went fishing’ as shown in the photograph here which was taken at a very wet Penshurst Place (a superb wedding venue in Kent).

I could also suggest that ‘I tied some flies for fishing’, occasionally with the assistance of grandchildren, and sometimes with feathers from our Vice President’s canary but that is perhaps another story!

I have found this activity to be something which has enable me to keep myself a little occupied when we have not been able to work as we would wish. It has also been a way to get away from it all in the fresh air, to relax, and to enjoy some beautiful countryside.

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It is always good to use your own kit but, if you do not have any, you do not need to bring any equipment. If you have it - great. If not, the venue will provide all you need including rod, reel, line, flies, net etc. The cost for that will be £7.50 (ie half their normal hire charge).

We do not know what the Covid rules will be concerning getting together but the venue team are used to safely catering for visiting groups, even during the Covid crisis. They have previously even provided a ‘roast in a bag’ comprising hot roast turkey sandwiches and roast potatoes etc.

The cost for the days fishing will be £33 with a three fish limit (that means you are able to take up to three fish home - if you catch them!)

If you need to use equipment if will be £7.50.

The maximum cost for tea and coffee throughout the day and a hot packed lunch will be £10. Their catering charges are basically at cost and are superb value. For those who wish to partake they are also licensed and sell bottled beer and small bottles of wine.

I cannot think of anywhere that represents better value for such a great day and I hope that you will be able to join me.

I anticipate starting at around 8.30 am so that we get a full day there.

Please could you let me know as soon as possible if you would like to attend as this already seems to proving popular.

Peter Thompson President I am sure that many members of the NAT have also found many ways to keep themselves active and amused.

So why am I telling you all this.

I would like to invite you to join me!

As it is unlikely that we will be able to safely meet indoors socially for a few months yet, I have arranged a fishing day at Brick Farm Lakes. This is a fly fishing venue near Herstmonceux in Sussex. Fishing after all is a pastime which lends itself to social distancing but allows us to be close enough to socialise sensibly and safely.

Brick Farm Lakes is a very friendly and well run trout fishery where they keep the fish stock high enough for even beginners to have a chance to catch fish. It is a lovely venue and on our last visit I saw a large stag in a nearby field and Gillian saw a baby badger Whether you are an experienced fly fisherman or a complete novice you will be accommodated. I have arranged for a qualified coach to be there, just for us, to give any newcomers sufficient instruction to get them on the water and fishing. He will explain the kit and show what to do with it in a relaxed, fun way so that you get going as soon as you feel confident.

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“My

maxim has always been, endeavour to get it right.”

It tak exp Back in the dim and distant days when Noah was a lad and I was studying chemistry at university, like most students of my day the biggest failing in life was a shortage of money. Being fairly adept at music, together with some fellow students I formed a band and we used our meagre talents to supplement our cash flow. My job, as well as being a musician was to front the band and do both vocals and Master of Ceremonies. One of my colleagues say an advert for people to train as a toastmaster and was persuaded to apply and so I took my first steps to buying a Red Coat.

My first engagement was at the university annual “Sports Dinner” which was also my first paid engagement, the magnificent sum of £7:0s:0d.

Although this does not seem a great sum, at that time musicians could only charge what was known as “musicians rate” at that time 7:45 to 11:45 £5, so seven quid seemed a fortune at least now in either department we are better off.

My journey through being a TM has taught me many things, the main one being, despite what you think you don’t know it all, regardless of the event, DO YOUR RESEARCH. I recall my tutor asking me “who are the two most important people at a wedding” easy I replied, the Bride and Groom, his reply “wrong”, how could I be wrong his answer told me, “Mr Gerdes-Hansen you would do well to remember Grooms attend to horses” and from that day, for me it is always Bridegroom. I’m sure many would both agree and disagree, so my maxim has always been, endeavour to get it right.

I have never hit what some might call, the big

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kes years of perience!

time, but my toastmastering life has taken me to Hong Kong, India, Australia, Florida, Clapham and Brighton to name some of those exotic places. I have hosted a ship naming ceremony in Aberdeen, a Win a Wedding competition in Dundee, weddings, anniversaries, charity balls and many more.

Even now in my dotage, I intend to keep going for as long as I can, my aim is to achieve at least one more memorable moment in my career, so I will end with my favourite. I was performing Sabrage at a very large wedding and having gone through the story line I drew back my sword shouted Sabrage, let fly and nothing happened, Oops, ladies and gentlemen, shall we try again, same as before,

nothing. I had not broken a bottle for over 16 years and to escapes embarrassment I decided to smash to bottle and please the audience, change angle of sword and bottle, “whack” the bottle did not break but I finished up with a large moon bite in my sword.

I quickly grabbed the reserved bottle and this time success, that was not the end, during a break the Best Man came up to me and said, “Opening the Champagne like that was fantastic, but how do you do that trick of bashing the bottle so hard without it breaking” he thought it was part of the act, my reply “I can’t really tell you but it takes years of experience.

Malcolm Gerdes-Hansen 11

Facebook interview with the Wedding Guru As a new member of the NAT I thought I would like to share a recent experience which was new to me and possibly a potential avenue for promoting and raising the profile of the Toastmaster during and following Lockdown.

I was approached towards the end of last year by Oskar Gilchrist-Grodnicki, The Wedding Guru, to take part in a live Facebook interview to highlight the role of The Toastmaster at weddings and to share some experiences, pass on hints, tips and advice from a different perspective to a “normal” wedding supplier.

Oskar is an Independent Wedding Planner who started his own company The Wedding Guru in November of 2019 after more than a decade of experience in Edinburgh as a wedding planner and co-ordinator in a variety of venues and companies. Following lockdown in March of 2020 Oskar started to become very active on Social media focussing on Facebook and Instagram as a platform to let existing customers, suppliers and colleagues know that he was still very active on the wedding scene. He carried out a series of workshops, online wedding shows and group interviews with suppliers to promote not only his business but also his contacts during the lockdown in 2020. I have been following Oskar on these initiatives and found them to be particularly useful and informative on a

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number of subjects. I first worked with Oskar as a Toastmaster about three years ago at The Principal Hotel, George Street in Edinburgh and we have kept in touch ever since.

As mentioned before. Oskar invited me to take part in one of his online interviews to promote the role of Toastmaster at a wedding. He asked me to provide some information, contact details, social media and website links and photographs and to select a set of prechosen questions to answer throughout the interview. He then set up a presentation to play in the background during our interview and set up a link on StreamYard Studio which I linked onto before the interview went live to make sure that it all worked out fine.

The interview started promptly at 6pm with a lot of interest and lots of questions coming through the platforms it was being streamed on, I was pleased to see that I had a lot of support from colleagues, friends and family and there was also a lot of interest from wedding suppliers and other event planners. The figures for the interview are as follows – 414 views to date on Oskars Facebook page, Facebook Group and You Tube, 87 Comments, 24 impressions, 5 Shares and one follow up question on Linkedin. I was also pleased to note that my own Instagram page showed an increase of approximately

20 followers from suppliers who had tuned into the interview.

I found the interview itself to be quite pleasant, although nerve wracking to begin with as I didn’t know what to expect, the questions flowed well and covered a variety of subjects on the role of a Toastmaster, some on the reasons why a Toastmaster should be engaged, some on etiquette, size of event I would be comfortable with and one of the use of and would I let someone use my Gavel(the answer was and always will be “NO”). Some colleagues who listened in and watched mentioned that I came across well and answered confidently all questions asked. The interview lasted just over an hour and there was one follow up question on Linkedin as mentioned before.

I have yet to see direct benefit from taking part, but I viewed it very much as a PR exercise and a way to raise the profile of The Toastmaster at a wedding.

Oskar Gilchrist Grodnicki – The Wedding Guru.

In conclusion I would say that it is definitely a worthwhile event to take part in if possible and probably the way forward under current circumstances to promote the role and benefits of engaging a Toastmaster, not only for a wedding but events in general.

I believe the interview is still available on You Tube and through Oskar’s Facebook page. I would also like to mention that Oskar is fantastic to work with, extremely professional and knowledgeable with lots of experience in the wedding industry here in Scotland, if you or any of your clients are looking for a wedding planner in Scotland I would highly recommend his services.

Richard Gray

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An OCT Scanner is an imaging tool, used primarily in Ophthalmology, to diagnose and stage retinal diseases. The major advantage of this OCT machine is that it’s portable. This will mean infants, children, wheelchair users and those who are bed bound will be able to benefit from its sight saving abilities when they couldn’t before.

The year 2020 started with a lot of hope and optimism – the Wedding Calendar was looking brisk, after all we were told, couples preferred 2020 to 2019, it just had a better ring about it, the start of a new decade. So it was going to be a good year.

Little did we know what was waiting for us just around the corner!!

I was just about to retire as Charity Steward of The Round Table Lodge of Suffolk 9276, having guided the Lodge through a successful 5 year Provincial Festival, the Installation was due in March and I had decided to move on, having been elected to a top job in Royal Arch Masonry.

My wife, Margaret had clocked up 50 + years as a nurse in the NHS and she had earmarked 31st March, 2020 as her final day.

For the last 10 years she had been working on the Ophthalmic Clinic in the Eye Dept. at Ipswich Hospital. She had told me that the Eye Dept. were trying to raise £55,000 to fund a new portable OCT Scanner and I thought this was something I could try and get some funding for.

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2020 AND ALL THAT!!

Well, I’m not that particularly fit, so walking/ jogging 500 miles etc wasn’t really me but I’m reasonably good at writing letters and seeing a challenge through. It took me 6 months but in January 2020, I had begged and cajoled Province and the Masonic Grand Charity and managed to be able donate £1000.00.

With fund matching from a drug company and other funds raised, I was notified this January 2021 that they had managed to place the order.

After 6 months of trying, I managed to get my 98 year old father a week’s break at the Princess Marina House, the RAF Benevolent Home in Littlehampton near Worthing. A fantastic care home, with 5 star services, just what he needed and so on the 9th March, Margaret and I took him down to the South Coast for a holiday.

On the 10th March, I had a Toastmaster job at Somerset House, on the Embankment in London and the very next day we set off on a 5 day mini-break to the Dorset Coast placing us in the right place to collect Dad on the 16th.

By then, Covid 19 has really started to kick off although the pub we had Sunday lunch in was packed. We picked Dad up on Monday,16th

March after having a lovely week but little did we know then that he was to be one of the last party of guests to ever to visit the home.

At the end of that week the RAF made the decision to permantley close all their respite homes around the UK-never to re-open.

Our youngest daughter with her boyfriend had set off in February to Cuba for a holiday of a lifetime and had just arrived in Brazil en route for Peru and Costa Rica. Things started to look very difficult but they were lucky and managed to finally get out of Sao Paulo safely on one of the last BA flights to the UK and with only a week to spare before Brazil closed the country down. Margaret and I then had to run the gauntlet of the lockdown here by making an emergency dash to Heathrow Airport to pick them up. There was hardly a car on the road!

Safely Home and needing a job, we got stuck into trying to sort out 40 years of family photos into actual year folders. Don’t the old photo albums take up so much room? Having taken 2 days, they started to look a bit more organised but quickly got put back into the cupboard they came from – maybe another day!!

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Margaret decided to answer the Health Services appeal for scrubs and for face masks for the family and being pretty useful at needlework, out came the sewing machine. She had great feelings of satisfaction but the cries of ‘why did I start this?’ could be heard regularly emanating regularly out of the dining room.

Not being my forte, I decided to re-decorate the hall; stairs, landing, a bathroom and downstairs toilet in between forays into the garden which I have to say did look rather pretty. A week away in the Cotswolds in September was just the tonic we needed and it was a nice break .With no weddings or functions on the horizon, the football season was my last hope.

I’m the Match Day Host in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite at Ipswich Town Football Club and the Restaurant holds 200+.In late November, the Government eventually decided to let in 2000 fans for a trial. Hooray, I got the telephone callwe are opening Hospitality but my heart sank- 23 guests in a room that holds 200. Well I soldiered on with my host colleague and ex-player, John Wark (ex Scotland, Liverpool and 1981 winner of the Young PFA Player of the Year Award) - We only had 2 games before the next lockdown but it was

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good to get back on a mic and try to get back some normality in my life and meeting other people the football was rubbish though!!

So the year was drawing to an end and I put my Lodge Charity Stewards hat on again and made the last few donations for the year to Suffolk Mind,Teddies for the Ipswich Hospital A&E Dept for the children,The Masonic Benevolent Home in Bury St Edmunds and to the London Ambulance Service. Not quite up to the fund raising standards

of Capt.Sir Tom but by doing just a little, it all helps Best wishes and good health to all my colleagues in the NAT and let’s look forward to Spring and Summer 2021 and hope the new vaccines will bring us some good cheer.

Rodger Oatley Treasurer and Fellow

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For a few years now I have worked as the Beadle for the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers (London Cabbies!). Whilst working at one of their events a Past Master approached me and said, ‘Would you like to assist at our Disney Trip in September?’ I am delighted that, as a result, to have been allowed to be the toastmaster for this event for the last couple of years, including the 25th Anniversary in 2020.

The Magical Taxi Tour was started by a Past Master of the Company, Phil Davies, and he was again the Master at the time of the 25th Anniversary trip. The aim of the trip is simple and the following is an almost verbatim lift from the Taxi Tour website.

One of London’s most unique charity events takes place each year when a convoy of licensed London taxis take over 200 children, suffering from a range of chronic debilitating illnesses and life limiting conditions, on a three-day trip of a lifetime to Disney® Paris. This Magical Taxi Tour has bought moments of great joy and happiness to sick children.

This amazing convoy, can be over three miles long when running and consists of 90 plus taxis, City of London Police escorts, Gendarmerie Nationale, London Ambulance, NHS Trust vehicles and AA breakdown trucks.

Organised annually, by the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, this event is only possible with the help of our sponsors who generously give toward the £1,400 per taxi necessary to meet the expenses of hotel, fuel, food, admission charges etc.

The taxi drivers naturally give freely of their time and use of their vehicles.

We are filled with sadness that some of these youngsters have since died, but with your help we are determined to give more children this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I believe that this is an amazing endeavour and the organisation is lengthy, meticulous and painstaking (something well known to toastmasters). If you remember the year of the petrol shortage, they even took fuel tankers to prevent any possible problems!

Doctors and medical staff are always with them.

In order to help understand the effect that this has on those involved, I have been permitted to share this story.

Danielle’s Story Danielle Natasha McIntyre Danielle was born on the 29th June 1993. She was a normal healthy happy child until she became ill

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at the age of five. After being admitted to the Royal Marsden Hospital in October 1999 she was faced with several severe problems. Danielle was diagnosed as having a large hole in her heart and a rare form of Myelodysplasia Syndrome, which meant but her bone marrow was not functioning properly.

Danielle underwent open heart surgery in February 2000 to repair the hole in her heart before she could be treated for her bone marrow condition. Danielle had attended various hospitals for tests and blood transfusion until she was diagnosed as having a lump behind her eye in June 2000, which after going a biopsy turned out to be Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Danielle didn’t respond very well to treatment of chemotherapy and was kept in hospital for 10 months and was recommended for a bone marrow transplant, which she had in January 2001.

It was then through the Royal Marsden that Danielle was invited to go on a trip to Disneyland Paris which was organised by the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, after all that Danielle has been through it was like a dream come true. I remember how excited she was the night before the trip and how I could not get her to sleep. Daniel loved every minute of the trip, all of the people that Danielle met thoroughly spoilt her and she was so full of energy. The trip was like an adventure to Danielle and she forgot all about illness and her treatment, she enjoyed herself on the trip to the full, staying up late and running wild.

On the Saturday in Disneyland Danielle did not know what to do first, she just wanted to do and go on everything, I think her favourite was Thunder River, she went on it three times in a row! Our taxi driver spoiled her so much and bought her a special princess outfit that she wore to the dinner that evening, where Danielle met all her favourite Disney characters.

When we returned home, Disneyland and the trip was all that Danielle talked about for weeks, it was the happiest that I had ever seen her, and ever will again.

Danielle sadly passed away peacefully on Saturday 24th of November at 11:15 am. I will never forget how happy Danielle was at Disneyland and that memory will stay with me forever, as it did with Danielle.

After all that she had been through, those few days of happiness lasted a lifetime and made up for all those years of sadness and pain that Danielle went through, it gave her the opportunity to forget her problems even if only for a short time. Thank you so much for bringing a smile to a very often sad little face.

Pauline McIntyre (Danielle’s Mum)

There is always fierce competition and a waiting list for the taxi drivers to be allowed to take part.

I find this an incredibly moving event to take part in and am almost reduced to tears to see the children looking so ill and yet so happy. It takes something really special to get the Lord Mayor, The Sheriffs, event organisers, caterers, sponsors, band, etc (including me) to be at Canary Wharf at 4 am but none of them would wish to be left out.

So, if I am able to organise a fundraising event or two whilst I am the president of the NAT, this is what it will be for. As I said earlier, this is not our central business and we are not a charitable organisation. All our members should feel no compulsion or pressure to support these endeavours - but I hope that you might Watch this space!

Peter Thompson President 19

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Toastm willin For eighteen of my twenty years as a professional toastmaster, I officiated at the ‘Cargo of the Year Awards’ banquet at the Royal Lancaster, London.

The managing editor of Air Cargo News was always the host and he held a drinks reception for VIP guests in the Forest Suite on the first floor prior to the start of the meal. It was my job to stand on the entrance to the Forest Suite at the top of the main staircase to check whether people arriving on that floor had been invited to the cocktail party or should be heading for the ground floor where a large bar had been set up for drinks prior to the banquet in the Nine Kings Suite. The VIP guests were mainly senior executives of international airlines, many of whom I got to know well over the years (that I found to my advantage on some occasions when flying abroad I noticed a tall, slim, attractive lady approaching me along the landing from the main hotel complex. She was wearing a slender silky strapless dress. She told me in a French accent that she had been invited to the VIP reception but first would like to visit the Ladies.

I directed he back along the corridor from which she had just come. As she walked away from me, I noticed that her dress had a long zip fastener down the back.

Some ten minutes or so, I saw her heading back along the corridor towards me. She had one arm over her shoulder. When she got to me, she said that she had been unable to do the zip up again. She was holding the top of the dress together at the back. Always ready to help a lady in distress (dis dress!), I offered to try and do the zip up. She turned round to allow me to do so and I noticed that her back was bare; she was not wearing a bra. At her hip level, a small piece of white material was caught in the zip and was preventing the zip from moving. It would not pull up and would not pull down. She had obviously caught her pants in the zip.

I led her down the staircase to the concierge’s desk in the lobby and he suggested we use the ‘emergency room’ and directed us to a ground floor room where an oriental lady was ironing the front of her skirt, 20

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masters are ng to lend a hand!

presumably to dry it after sponging off a spilt drink.

There was a table, a chair and a large pair of scissors fixed by a long chain to the wall. The chain was not enough to go down to the bottom of her skirt and back up to her waist, so I pulled the small table to the wall under the chain and put a chair next to it.

She used the chair as a step to stand on the table.

I turned my back while she pulled up her dress to cut away the offending snag. Her dress was so tight that she was unable to raise it far enough and asked me to assist.

I passed the scissors up inside her dress and was just able to get the tip level with the inside at the bottom her zip.

After a struggle, I snipped away the back of her pants.

She climbed off the table and to my surprise, kicked off the panties that had slid down since I had cut through

the elastic. She dropped them into a wastepaper basket and I then used the point of the scissors to pick out the small piece of elastic stuck in the zip.

Success! top and the VIP she was

I was then able to pull the zip up to the she was decent again and able to attend reception. Only she and I knew that not wearing anything under her dress.

One of the more pleasant tasks among the unusual that Toastmasters are required to undertake!

TMV STORY

Tony Forward Past President 21

A TOASTMASTER MAKES THE DIFFERENCE My story is about the difference a Toastmaster can make and I have used it as part of selling the valued service that a professional Master of Ceremonies can bring and also through story telling be extra engaging with the listener.

As a relatively new Toastmaster a few years ago, one of my first engagements was at Lillibrooke Manor, a stunning Berkshire country venue near Maidenhead with a large barn, outer buildings and grounds. I remembered my training, excellently provided by Paul and Howard, and was looking forward to the event with ‘confidence and calm’ My story goes ‘I’m looking back to the first event I helped with at the rustic wedding venue, Lillibrooke Manor. I met the lovely couple some weeks in advance of the wedding for a detailed planning meeting at their home. They were keen to be able to enjoy the day as much as possible and have a record of events they could keep for ever – so they had hired a photographer and a videographer who I then reached out to introduce myself and make contact.

A key part of the Toastmaster role is to work collaboratively with all the suppliers and the wedding venue. The award winning Heritage Venues team are responsible for the smooth running of every event at the Lillibrooke Manor and I hope in doing my role I am helpful to them and the other suppliers as well so they can do their job.

In any wedding there are moments where the calm facilitation skill of the Toastmaster can make all the difference. This wedding was no exception and one of those moments sticks in my mind. The arrival of the bride and bridegroom from the church in their vintage Rolls.

There are two entrances to this rustic wedding venue, one that leads to the Manor House, which forms a fantastic backdrop for pictures – and the other that leads to the Great Barn.

The vintage Rolls bringing the bride and bridegroom from the church was due to arrive at the Great Barn – which was looking stunning in readiness for the wedding breakfast. It was planned the bride and bridegroom would arrive in front of the Great Barn to be welcomed by me and the Heritage Venues team with two champagne flutes. The couple would then be shown the Great Barn in its splendour before any of the guests were invited to take their places. The preview of the wedding breakfast set-up is always a special moment for the bride and bridegroom.

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The arrival in the Rolls was to be filmed and photographed and the photographer and videographer were set up to record the moment. We had noticed the car was on its way and coming up the long drive to the complex of buildings. Then we saw that the Rolls had come in the wrong entrance – the arrival moment would be missed if they get out of the car by the Manor House ,,,,,,,,,,,,, This is where, as Toastmaster I came into action. There is an attractive archway in the wall between the entrances.

I strode purposefully through the arch and approached the Rolls as it was pulling up – I greeted the driver and couple and I opened the door – I kindly invited them to return to the main drive and use the other entrance where they were to be received at the Great Barn. So, with no fuss the bride and bridegroom swept past the Manor House and around to The Great Barn and the moment of their arrival was captured perfectly on film. From my point of view, every wedding should have a toastmaster to make sure that everything goes without a hitch and it is as stress free as possible for the bride and bridegroom.’

What stories could you tell?

Tim Podesta

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ONCE UPO

All good stories begin with ‘Once upon a time’ so this one will be no exception.

Once upon a time, there was a young man called Ben – he lived in Brighton and was a keen member of Brighton Cruising Club, as sea rowing was one of his hobbies. He also liked horses, rode well, loved cars, and enjoyed driving, and was engaged to be married, so life was good for him.

He was born on the 13th March 1913 – and as we take up our story the year is 1938 and there is serious unrest on the continent of Europe.

Many weeks passed and gradually, very gradually, Ben came to terms with his loss and Allen invited him to spend a week-end at his home in Whitburn (a small village between Sunderland and South Shields) on the north east coast.

Recently fully qualified as a Quantity Surveyor Ben was sent to work in Louth, by his boss, and lived in ‘digs’ all week, returning to Brighton at the week-ends.

He made friends with another young contractor called Allen, who hailed from the north east of England, and they had many happy evenings together exploring the local pubs etc etc.

Allen, as the youngest in the family, had 3 older brothers, and a sister called Eleanor. Allen introduced Ben to Eleanor, and to his own fiancee, Joan, and the four of them explored the local area over the week-end.

Ben had never been to the north of the country before, and had some difficulty understanding the local ‘Geordie/Wearside’ accent, but, that apart, they all enjoyed the week-end and decided to repeat it.

Returning to Louth one Monday, Allen could see that his new friend Ben was looking very sad and sick – eventually when they had quiet time to themselves

By now Allen and Ben had completed their contract in Louth and gone their separate ways to other

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he told Allen that his fiancee had died, she had been struggling with a blood disorder and had died from leukemia. Ben was heartbroken and, although Allen did his best it was impossible to comfort him, he realised that he would have to let his friend gradually come to terms with his distress, but be around to offer support as and when it seemed appropriate.

ON A TIME sites, with Ben working at Chatham Dock Yard and living in a small house, which he had rented in Gillingham.

However, the foursome having become very good friends, continued to spend time together.

Several happy week-ends, came and went. Then one day they climbed a hill at a local beauty spot, on the top of which was a memorial, called Penshaw Monument.

Allen and Joan thought they could feel romance in the air so walked away and left Ben and Ella alone.

Their intuition was spot on. On meeting up again Ben announced that Ella had agreed to be his wife. So there was much excitement, and plans were put in train for an engagement, and an early wedding, as the war appeared to be imminent.

A few short weeks later, on 5th August 1939, Ben and Ella were married in Whitburn Parish Church.

The family were all there and a great day was had by all.

They then took off to Gillingham, and got themselves settled into their little house. Ben was not ‘called up’ as the work he was doing at Chatham Dock Yard was considered a ‘protected professional position’,

he did, however, join the Home Guard !!

The newly weds were happy in their little home, and life was good – although the news from Europe was, of course, ever present on radio broadcasts and the first day of September 1939 saw the beginning of the Second World War.

In the autumn of 1940 Ella became pregnant.

They were both very thrilled and excited about their forthcoming baby, but Ben was anxious that Ella might go into labour when he was not at home, so they decided to make the journey to Whitburn in April, so that Ella could be safely cared for by her mother, and her aunt.

Ben returned to Gillingham and eagerly, and somewhat anxiously, awaited news of the arrival of his first child.

On 14th May 1941 Ella was safely delivered of a daughter – that little girl was ME !!

Janice Dorn

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The Trave

The travelling cats put their packs on their backs And set out to see the world.

They took their tandem, a torch and a map Which they slowly and carefully unfurled.

The way was clear and the day was bright So they cycled till nearly night; When by lighted torch, the moon and the stars, Found their way To a suitable place to stay.

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An inn, no less, where the owners they found Were possessed of not even one dog; While the river nearby was full of fish And delectably slippery eels.

So they settled themselves and cooked a dish; Certainly one of their better meals!

elling Cats

Then out of the dark they heard a bark; No longer was all good news!

So they hid themselves and tormented the night with a series of howls and mews.

Their meows increased And the barking soon ceased.

Then quickly unpacking two pillows, a brush and a tortoiseshell comb, Remembering also their travelling mat, They quietly began to wash; Till polished and bright They curled themselves round for a peaceful and tranquil night.

Vanessa Saward

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How to be a part of the Spring edition of the TMV 1. Now the road map and re-opening plans have been unvailed, what impact will it have on you/us? How, what, where, why and when? Your thoughts.

2. Send in a caricature and photo of yourself or a member of the family.

3. Put an entry into the ‘700-word story competition’

All contributions to be sent to richard@cambridgetoastmaster.com The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or the NAT.