The London Speaker

Hot Questions! Table Topics (impromptu speaking) Intensive 22 October 09

From Luke Szyrmer, President Polish Your Polish

Learn to bring your creativity to table topics - the art of answering unexpected questions with composure and flair.

Polish Your Polish are hosting an English speaking impromptu speaking event led by one of their top topic speakers Michal Misztal and creative artist Agnieszka Mlicka.   This is a joint event - part of a series of trainings in applied acting skills - from Polish deConstruction and Polish Your Polish Toastmasters.

This event will cover how you can come up with creative answers on the spot.  You will give and receive feedback and have multiple chances to try out your skills in a fun environment.

The event starts at 7pm and is being held at the Crosse Keys, Gracechurch Street, EC3.  For full information and to register click here.  Booking required as number of places is limited.

London Toastmasters Area 45 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests Results

From David Adams, Area 45 Governor

Our first Area 45 Contest was a great success. In the Humorous Speech Contest we had an amazing variety of energetic speeches including a certain amount of disrobing by way of visual aids. A very high and professional standard from all our contestants who were: Cameron Blair (Grosvenor Square Speakers), George Metcalfe (Early Bird Speakers), David Rivington (Berkeley Square Speakers), Richard Stacey (Early Bird Speakers) and Mike Young (Berkeley Square Speakers). Speech titles ranged from the Pains of Youth to Spanish Blind Dates.

For Table Topics contestants had to speak on the subject "On Grand Central Station I sat down and cried." Again brilliantly inventive - from missing out on a date with Frank Sinatra in the Oyster bar to missing a train to Philadephia. One contestant sat down and cried for his country. Contestants were: Cameron Blair (Grosvenor Square Speakers), Colleen Doyle (Grosvenor Square Speakers), George Metcalfe (Early Bird Speakers), Mark Mortimer (Berkeley Square Speakers), Dele Ogun (Early Bird Speakers) and Beate Rissbacher (Berkeley Square Speakers).

Area 45 Humorous Speech Contest results:

Winner Cameron Blair (Grosvenor Square Speakers)

2nd Place Richard Stacey (EarlyBird Speakers)

3rd Place David Rivington (Berkeley Square Speakers)

Area 45 Table Topics Contest results:

Winner Colleen Doyle (Grosvenor Square Speakers)

2nd Place Dele Ogun (Early Bird Speakers)

3rd Place Beate Rissbacher (Berkeley Square Speakers)

A big thank you to Freddie Daniells for chairing the contests and to Hilary Briggs our Chief Judge.

Thanks to Germonimo Inns for their very generous provision of the room above the Phoenix Pub & Restaurant, Palace Street, SW1

To guarantee your seat at the next round of the contest -The All London Finals - .  We would love to see you there supporting all the Area winners. The bigger the audience the better the overall experience!

London Toastmasters Area 6 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests Results

From Gary Edwards, Area 6 Governor

I'm very please to announce the success of the Area 6 contest on Monday. The packed room was treated to extraordinarily hilarious speeches, quick-witted table topics and a good time was had by all.

The competitors in the Humorous Speech contest were (from second left to second right): Alexander Lowry (London Cardinals), Laura McCracken (London Olympians), Mikolaj Paszkowski (Polish your Polish), Vaughan Evans (London Corinthians).

And the results: 1st Place Laura McCracken 2nd Place Mikolaj Paszkowski

The Table Topics (impromptu speaking) competitors were (again from second left to second right): Andrea Weir (London Olympians), Jessie Macneil-Brown (London Cardinals), Vaughan Evans (London Corinthians), Adam Ginalski (Polish your Polish).

And the results were: 1st Place Jessie Macneil-Brown 2nd Place Vaughan Evans.

The others in the pictures are myself (on the far left) and our scintillating and brilliant Contest Chair Simon Bucknall.

Also instrumental in the running of the evening were the highly impartial Rory Marriott (Chief Judge), the timers, the counters, the judges and of course London Cardinals for supplying the room and all the help an Area Governor could have asked for.

Roll on the Division B final! See you there on Wednesday 21st October.

More info on the London Finals here...

London Toastmasters Area 31 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Results

An audience of over 50 were regally entertained at last night's London Toastmasters Area 31 Table Topics and Humorous speech contest hosted by speakeasy@creditsuisse.  An abundance of humour was delivered by our speakers, Fiaz Mir, Athar Ahmad, Adolfo Tunon and Kerry Heffron with all four of them keeping the audience laughing throughout their speeches. Responding to the topic "I have a dream"... These words belong to somebody else but what is your vision? were Ruby Pillai, Clive Broadbent, Paul Coulson and James Conway.

from left to right – Athar Ahmed, Gary Edwards (Chief Judge), Rory Marriott (Area Governor), Ilona Shariga (Contest Chair), Ruby Pillai, Kerry Heffron, Clive Broadbent, James Conway, Adolfo Tunon, Paul Coulson, Fiaz Mir

The success of the evening can be attributed to our fantastic Contest Chair Ilona Shariga, Gary Edwards (Chief Judge), the very anonymous judges and all the functionaries. I would also like to thank Fiaz Mir and Saskia Wiriadidjaja for doing all the printing.

And the result….

Humorous Speech Contest Winner – Adolfo Tunon, CitiCriers,  2nd Place – Athar Ahmad, Speakeasy@creditsuisse.

Table Topics Contest Winner – Clive Broadbent, Canary Wharf Communicators,  2nd Place – Ruby Pillai, WIBF-Canary Wharf.

Hear our winners competing again at the All London Finals on Wednesday 21st October 2009. 6.30pm for a prompt 6.45pm start.  See you there! 

Craig Valentine 1999 World Champ talks about contests

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

Craig Valentine, Toastmasters 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking gives his take on contests and continuing to improve your public speaking:

London Toastmasters Area 47 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Results

From Lynne Cantor, Area 47 Governor

London Communicators hosted a great evening on Monday 12th October for Area 47's first ever contest. There was representation from all four clubs: Sam Oliver and Sean Kennedy from London Communicators, Chris Bell and Louise Watt from Northern Lights, Jade Simpson from WIBFS-City and Bob Ferguson and Yvonne Masset from Excalibur Speakers. 

We listened to four excellent speeches, which provided an opportunity for the audience to learn from proficient speakers and to recognise the value of humour in speaking.  The four table topic responses were a great demonstration of impromptu speaking as well as being entertaining.

 

Humorous Speech Contest Winner - Bob Ferguson, Excalibur Speakers,   2nd Place - Chris Bell, Northern Lights.

 

Table Topics Contest Winner - Sean Kennedy, London Communicators,  2nd Place - Jade Simpson, WIBFS-City.

 

Feedback from the evening included the comment ..."Wanted to say that I thought last night`s final was the best attended, most professional and most fun area final I have been to since joining TM in 2004."...So watch out folks, Area 47 is well and truely on the map!

 

The evening was exceedingly well run with thanks to our two contest chairs Julie Holness and David O'Neill as well as our judges and all the functionary roles.  Our final thanks goes to Julie Holness for her excellent co-ordination efforts along with other members of London Communicators.

 

The Division B Finals will be held at the London Irish Centre, Camden on Wednesday 21st October. 

 

Pictured above from left to right are: Louise Watt, Chris Bell, Jade Simpson, Julie Holness, Sean Kennedy, Lynne Cantor, Bob Ferguson, Yvonne Masset, Sam Oliver, David O'Neill.

London Toastmasters Area 29 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Results

From Lilian Nandi, Area 29 Governor

8 October - the London Toastmasters Area 29 contest was held in a crowded room at the Hop Poles, Hammersmith. We were treated to four highly entertaining humorous speeches and terrific table topics (impromptu speeches). Table Topiocs contestants had to tackle a rather long question - the summary of which was "What do you think are the significant factors in promoting prosperity in our society?"

Competing in our Area Humorous Speech contest were pictured left to right:

Glen Savage (Riverside Communicators), Errol Williamson (Trojans Speakers), Philena Bruce (West London Speakers), Bob Nisbet (London Athenians).

And the results were:

Winner: Glen Savage. 2nd Place: Errol Williamson.

Competing in our Area Table Topics Contest were pictured from left to right:

Jenny Matsuzek (West London Speakers), Gray Standen (Riverside Communicators), Paul Carroll (London Athenians), Samantha Tross (Trojans Speakers).

And the results were:

Winner: Paul Carroll. 2nd Place: Jenny Matsuzek.

Paul and Glen go on to compete in the All London Contest Finals on Wednesday 21st October at the London Irish Centre.  We look forward to seeing you all there.  Book your seat by clicking on the link

London Toastmasters Area 34 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Results

From Christopher Hall, Area 34 Governor

They say a good humorous speech has lots of socially embarrassing stories told in vivid detail so the audience can feel as if they were there. In the Area 34 Contest subject matter ranged from Facebook fiascos to being taken to the police station after selling videos at a car boot sales with Dad and toddler both dressed as pirates.

Humorous Speech contestants were: Kenneth Adjei (City of London Speakers), Ola Aralepo (Tube Talk), Iain Duthie (Tube Talk), David Jones (Holborn Speakers),

Table Topics contestants were: Kenneth Adjei (City of London Speakers) Chris Boden (Holborn Speakers), Iain Duthie (Tube Talk), David Jones (Holborn Speakers), Bill Moss (City of London Speakers), John Nyaruwa (Tube Talk).

A winning table topics does not need semblance of reality as was proved by Chris Boden who carefully explained how the little green Martians, having destroyed the red planet in a nuclear war, are now being discriminated against on Earth - after all, how many little green Martians have you seen at your workplace?

Pictured from left to right Andy O'Sullivan Contest Chairman, Chris Boden winner of the Area 34 Table Topics Contest, Joga Bains Contest Chairman, Ola Aralepo winner of the Area 34 Humorous Speech Contest. David Jones placed second in both contests.

To hear these and other excellent humorous and impromptu speeches, make sure you book you place at the All London Contest Finasl coming up on the 21st October at the the London Irish Centre.

London Toastmasters Area Contests Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th October

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

The second round of London Toastmasters public speaking contests continues.  The next Humorous Speech and Table Topics (impromptu speaking) contests are next Monday and Tuesday.  You are very welcome to attend.

Monday 12 October 2009 Area 6 Contest 7pm, Rubens at the Palace Hotel, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, SW1W 0PS

Area 6 clubs: London Cardinals, London Corinthians, London Olympians, Polish Your Polish

Monday 12 October 2009 Area 47 Contest 7pm, Hilton Hotel, 53 Upper Street, N1 0UY

Area 47 Clubs: Excalibur Speakers, London Communicators, Northern Lights, WIBF-City

Tuesday 13 October 2009 Area 31 Contest 6.30pm Credit Suisse, Canary Wharf. Email Rory Marriott, Area Governor, if you would like to attend.

Area 31 Clubs: Canary Wharf Communicators, Citi Criers, Speakeasy @Credit Suisse, Speakers Corner, Thompson Reuters, WIBF-Canary Wharf

Tuesday 13 October 2009 Area 45 Contest 6.30pm, The Phoenix, 14 Palace Street, Victoria, SW1E 5JA

Area 45 clubs: Berkeley Square Speakers, Early Bird Speakers, Grosvenor Square Speakers

Winners from these contests go on to compete in the All London Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest Finals on Wednesday 21 October 2009. More info.  Book your seat for the London Finals here:

London Toastmasters first Area Humorous and Impromptu Speaking Contest Results

From Andy O'Sullivan Area 33 Governor

This Monday 5th October saw a great night for public speaking in London -  the first of the Area finals being held as the Humorous Speech contest and Table Topics contest moved from the Toastmasters club contest stage to the Area contest level.

Broadgate Speakers were hosting on the night as the respective winners from four clubs battled it out it out to determine who would represent Area 33 in the London Division B finals.

The Table Topics (impromptu speaking) contestants were Hanieh Chehrehnegary (St Paul’s Speakers), Maria-Jesus Rojo (Broadgate Speakers), Donna Hicks (Bank Speakers), and Jenny Crossley (MLP London Bridge Speakers). The question they had to answer? "Which DVD or movie have you seen which was a big disappointment and made you want to ask for your money back?"

Humorous Speech contestants were: James Oliver representing St Paul’s Speakers, Gerald Dunn from Bank Speakers, Ian Halliday of Broadgate Speakers (last year's Area champion), Jenny Crossley from MLP London Bridge Speakers. Subjects ranged from the not so original approach New Zealanders have to naming places, people, and just about everything else to...why a Spanish Ship sank and the ensuing court case.

All club winners did a fantastic job in representing their clubs in the Area contests. It was surely no easy task for the assembled contest judges to determine the placings.

Results - The Area 33 Humorous Speech contest was won by Gerald Dunn and the Table Topics contest by Donna Hicks, a clean sweep by Bank Speakers!

As Gerald will be away exploring New Zealand in late October, stepping up as the Area 33 representative in the Humorous Speech Contest will be Jenny Crossley who was placed 2nd on the night.

We warmly wish Jenny and Donna the very best of luck and will be loudly cheering them on as they brave the Division B finals on Wednesday 21st October.