Club News Archives 2006

Toastmasters Double For MK Duo - 10th October 2006 Winner Margaret Bollen with Area Governor Roger Crews. There is just no stopping some people, especially members of the two Toastmasters International clubs in Milton Keynes. Cranfield University marketing specialist Neil Godfrey, a member of Elder Gate Toastmasters, will be representing his club, the city, and the rest of Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area in the East of England final of the public speaking organisation's annual humorous speech competition. Neil fought his way through to the third round of the prestigious competition on October 8 at the St John Ambulance Centre in Aylesbury, beating off four other contenders for the honour. Neil won with a reworked version of the speech that won him the club round at Elder Gate Toastmasters in mid-September, a tale based on his potentially fatal allergy to walnuts and anything derived from or containing walnut. Loughton housewife and company secretary Margaret Bollen, meanwhile, continues to add to her hoard of Toastmasters International trophies. She took first prize in the improvised speaking segment of the competition, and now accompanies Neil to represent the area at the East of England final in Weeting, in Norfolk, on October 22. Margaret is now reigning Area champion in two out of four categories contested annually. "When she joined Toastmasters in early 2005 we couldn't persuade to stand up and speak out," says husband Brian, currently president of Elder Gate Toastmasters and responsible for public relations at its sister club, Willen-based North Bucks Speakers. "Now we can't get her to sit down and shut up! She is unrecognisable from the shy, retiring woman who joined. For the first time in her life she has confidence, and the difference it has made to her, and to our life together, is nothing short of life-changing. Toastmasters is responsible for building that confidence by encouraging her to speak, and develop."

Margaret Bollen Does It Again - 27th September 2006 Contest chair Anthony Crow, flanked by winners Margaret Bollen and John Schell. Margaret Bollen continues to take the world of Toastmasters International by storm, picking up yet another first prize in the first round of the second of the public speaking organisation’s annual competitions. Margaret beat off fierce competition from a quality field to win the improvised speaking award at the inaugural competition held at North Bucks Speakers, the younger of the two Milton Keynes branches of Toastmasters International. This adds to Margaret’s growing hoard of trophies; in April this year she won the international speech competition at Elder Gate Toastmasters, then scooped the area award in competition with the four other clubs in the Bucks and Beds area, going on to represent the area in the East of England division final. John Schell joined Margaret on the podium, winning first place in the club’s annual humorous speech contest, with a side-splitting spoof training session. The competition was held at The Harvester, London Road, Loughton on September 22. Margaret and John now go on to represent NBS in the area competition, in Aylesbury on October 8. Lining up against them will be Neil Godfrey, who won both sections at the Elder Gate Toastmasters competition a week earlier.

Double Tops For Eldergate's Neil - 17th September 2006 Winner Neil Godfrey (right) with Area Governor Roger Crews. Neil Godfrey scored Double Tops at this year's Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests, held at The Crown, Market Square, in Stony Stratford on September 16. Neil came first in both contests, winning Table Topics with his thoughts on the conversion of the hard shoulder on the M42 into usable driving space, and the Humorous Speech with his tales of life with a fatal allergy to walnuts. Brian Bollen, current club president, came second in both contests, while Esmé Driver, club mentoring guru, took third place in both, completing a rare one-two-three double whammy. Neil's double success is no mean feat considering the quality of the opposition on show, with Margaret Bollen and Phil Chippendale, both highly amusing speakers, failing to make the podium. Trisha Page deserves a mention too for making her competitive debut in Table Topics. Area Governor Roger Crews was on hand to make the awards and congratulate everyone on a first-class event, held in the strongest possible spirit. Dave Minzey aka Lord Kitchener.   Norman & Lena - two of Eldergate's newest members.   This is where the real power base of Eldergate Toastmasters lies - and Margaret is with her husband & club president Brian Bollen.   Marlon Nolan enjoying a well earned pint.

All Change At The Top - 3rd July 2006 Outgoing President, Danny Moody. The Toastmasters year runs from 1st July to 31st June each year so it's time for a change at the top for both Eldergate and North Bucks Speakers. Outgoing Presidents Danny Moody (Eldergate) and Dave Minzey (NBS) are replaced by Brian Bollen (Eldergate) and Roger Crews (NBS). As well as the hand over of presidency, each club has a new committee for the 2006/2007 Toastmasters year. Serving on the committee is a great way to get more involved in Toastmasters, and to develop new skills along the way. Eldergate Toastmasters had an extremely successful year in 2005/2006, finishing as a Presidents Select Distinguished Club Starred. This is the top honour globally for those clubs that complete 10/10 of the Toastmaster goals. NBS also did excellently, achieving 8/10, which was actually the most they could achieve being a new club and not having any long standing members as yet to contribute towards the advanced awards. Both clubs will strive towards 10/10 again in 2007.

Taking Toastmasters To Bedfordshire - 3rd April 2006 Bedford - Toastmasters' newest club. A new club is forming in Bedford. There will be a demonstration meeting in Kempston, Bedford on Thursday 27th April from 19:30 to 20:30, all welcome. For further details contact Colette Jones 01234 851 087, colette.jones1@ntlworld.com or Roger Crews 01525 240 794 07946 568 153 rcrews@breathemail.net. The new club is being started by Roger Crews of the Eldergate and North Bucks Speakers clubs in Milton Keynes. The club's first president will be Colette Jones, also a member of Eldergate Toastmasters.

Double Success For Women Toastmasters - 2nd April 2006 Contest Chair, Danny Moody, presents the trophy to contest winner Margaret Bollen. Maybe they should rename Toastmasters International as Toastmistresses International, following the results of the Area 4 final of this year's international speech contest. Women took top spot in the two sections, with Eldergate's Margaret Bollen taking the prize for best speaker and Gill Hale, of the Vale Club in Leighton Buzzard, following her an hour later by taking the award for best speech evaluator. Both women triumphed over strong competition. Eldergate will be well represented in the next round of the competition, the Division G final, at Hatfield on April 29. Margaret takes her place by right as winner, while Esmé Driver, who finished second in the speech evaluation contest, will automatically go through to the Division final as Gill Hale will be out of the country at that time. Our best wishes go with both Margaret and Esmé. The competition will take place at the Hertfordshire speakers club, whose venue is The Red Lion, 88 Great North Rd, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, AL9 5EU, from 2pm to 5pm. Everyone is welcome to attend what should be a great afternoon's entertainment. www.hertfordshirespeakers.org

It's Really Possible With Toastmasters - 3rd February 2006 Jason Johns (left) picks up his award from Contest Chair Angus Galbraith Underlining the strength in depth of speaking skills in the area, the North Bucks Speakers heat of this year's International Speech Contest attracted five high calibre entries from (in order of speaking) John Schell, Anthony Crow, Brian Bollen, Leon Welsh and Jason Johns. The honours in a close run competition went to Jason Johns for his thoughtful motivational address entitled: “Is It Really Possible?” John Schell was runner-up. Brian Bollen, to his clear astonishment, won the Speech Evaluation contest, despite the sterling efforts of Peter Giesinger, Dave Minzey and Leon Welsh to evaluate a speech prepared at very short notice by Margaret Bollen. “They say you should never evaluate a speech by your wife, or partner, but Toastmasters is all about stepping beyond and therefore extending your comfort zone, and this was a prime example of that,” said Brian.

Make Mine A Double - 1st February 2006 Congratulations to Margaret Bollen, winner of the Eldergate heat of the 2005-2006 International Speech Competition. Margaret fought off fierce competition from Esmé Driver, Graham Simpkins, and her own husband, Brian, and will go on to represent the club in the next round of the competition at Area Level in April. Margaret also won the North Bucks Speakers heat of the Humorous Speech competition last September, giving her two current titles, a huge step forward for someone who less than a year ago refused to even take part in Table Topics. Ian Haynes won the evaluation contest and will also now represent Eldergate Toastmasters in the Area contest. Esmé Driver came second in both the International Speech and Evaluation contest.

Would The Contestants Please Step Forward - 20th January 2006 It's contest time again at Toastmasters. Both clubs in Milton Keynes (Eldergate and North Bucks Speakers will be holding the 1st round, club level contests in the International Speech & Evaluation Contest. Eldergate's contest takes place on Monday 30th January at Herons Lodge, while NBS hold theirs on Thursday 2nd February at the Well at Willen. For the Speech contest speakers will deliver a five to seven minute speech, which they have pre-prepared. Normally three or four people compete at club level. For the Evaluation contest participants will listen to a speech and then deliver a three minute evaluation of it, outlining the good points and the areas for development. The winners of the club contests progress to the Area contest, and the winners of that progress to the Division contest and thence to the District contest, which covers the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland. For information on any of these contest please see the contacts page.

NBS Breaks Attendance Record... Again! - 1st December 2005 L to R: Leon Welsh, Roger Crews and Dave Minzey pose with the new NBS banner. Another week, another record turnout at North Bucks Speakers, with no fewer than 25 people in attendance for another vigorous, entertaining and educational evening's speaking. Underlining the progress that the club has made in recent months, and promises to continue making, Linda Norwood and Mary Legge, guests for the third meeting in succession, both decided to join. They look certain to be followed by Phil and Beth Brand, both visiting for the first time. Competition for speaking slots looks set to become intense in the weeks and months ahead! As Toastmaster of the Evening, Jason Johns ran a tight, efficient ship, without ever losing his sense of humour. Making her debut as Topics Master (or rather Topics Mistress) was Louise Mason, setting difficult challenges in the improvised speaking section of the evening for Brian Bollen, Rodney Hodge, Anthony Crow and Margaret Bollen, who was also doing her first stint as general evaluator. Prepared speeches came from Brian Bollen, Leone Skears, Lynne Groves and Derek Pink, who stood in as reserve speaker at almost literally the last minute, only learning at around 7.20pm that Phil Sangster felt too unwell to deliver his first ATM speech. Derek promptly won a hat-trick of prizes for his piece in praise of cats, taking the best speaker, best humour, and general evaluator's awards. This is the second meeting in a row that one speaker has won three of the main prizes. The Bollen dynasty, meanwhile, shared the Table Topics award.

Ahhh - Nostalgia Isn't What It Used To Be - 9th November 2005 Margaret Bollen was rarely in the dark as debutante Toastmaster of the Evening Esmé Driver's astonishing ability as an improvised speaker grabbed the attention of this very lively and enjoyable evening. Called upon by Topics Master Danny Moody to talk about nostalgia and sound, Esmé delivered a performance that evoked vivid memories of her days growing up in the Rhondda Valley (Wales's answer to the Alps, apparently), completed with renditions of songs she used to sing to entertain herself, family and neighbours, on the stage that was the toilet in her back garden. In the voting that followed for best Topics Speaker, Esmé won with a landslide vote, 12-1. Adrian Yardley (nostalgia and smell), Graham Simpkins (nostalgia and sight) and Brian Bollen (nostalgia and taste) all performed creditably in their own improvisations, but were swept away by the force that is Esmé. Brian, though, took the honours for Best Speaker and Best Humour with his fourth speech from The Entertaining Speaker manual. Challenged to produce a speech that was dramatic as well as entertaining, Brian dredged his memory banks for graphic and even scatological details of the stomach ulcer he contracted at the tender age of 15, which culminated in a fortnight's stay in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Sarinder Gidda resumed his progress through the Basic Manual with an interesting and well illustrated talk on how the Greeks moved from mythology to cosmology, while YY Tsang took on the challenge of explaining why Chinese people speak English backwards. As Danny Moody noted in his evaluation of YY's speech, it is very possibly the first time that Toastmasters has experienced a speech in English, on Chinese, delivered in a Scottish accent. YY's efforts won him the special General Evaluator's award for the evening, while Danny yet again was voted best evaluator, beating off competition from Ian Haynes and Roger Crews. Never work with children, animals, or Danny Moody, is sound advice. Margaret Bollen made her debut as Toastmaster of the Evening with a calmness and assurance that we have come to expect of her. Topping off an excellent evening, Parveena Gidda, after several visits as a guest, indicated her intention to join her dad, Sarinder, as a member. In attendance: Danny Moody, Margaret Bollen, Roger Crews, Adrian Yardley, Graham Simpkins, Dave Minzey, Brian Bollen, Ian Haynes, Elizabeth Hyde-Englefield, Sarinder Gidda, YY Tsang, Esmé Driver, Abi Adefisan, Michael Adefisan, Parveena Gidda. Next meeting: December. Elizabeth Hyde-Englefield is scheduled to deliver her Icebreaker speech. Ian Haynes is preparing to share his long awaited ninth speech, in which he is challenged to Persuade With Power. Abi Adefisan will be giving her second speech, which we are all looking forward to, after her accomplished debut a few meetings ago, while Susanne Hall, only just transferred to North Bucks Speakers, has booked a special guest appearance.

Record Numbers At North Bucks Speakers - 17th November 2005 This was nothing less than a new benchmark for North Bucks Speakers, with a new record turnout for a normal club meeting. No fewer than 23 people, including three guests, participated in a lively, entertaining and thought-provoking meeting. The impetus that the club has built up since the spring, when the big push began to charter the club before the end of the Toastmasters year on June 30, continues to drive the club along. The atmosphere developing at this friendly club is surely unique even in the history of Toastmasters for its relaxed, welcoming warmth. At least two of the guests on Thursday night have already said they will join in January, further swelling the membership roster. The list has also just been boosted by the transfer from Eldergate of Susanne Hall and Leone Skears, who found it increasingly difficult to get to Eldergate meetings and be active Toastmasters. Making her debut as Topics Master at club level was Lynn Groves, who filled the role at the area heat of the Humorous Speech competition a few weeks back. Lynn took Christmas as her broad theme, inviting Margaret Bollen, Brian Catchpole, Jason Johns and John Olds. Prepared speeches came from John Olds, Rodney Hodge, George Drewett and Sam Bourton, whose icebreaker proved an enormous hit. Continuing the club's growing tradition for an unusually high standard of speaking, Sam won the best speaker, best humour and general evaluator awards. Peter Giesinger took the grunt 'honours', while Jason Johns walked off with the Table Topics trophy and Phil Sangster won the vote for best evaluator.

New Venue Makes Better Meetings At Eldergate - 15th November 2005 The theatrical side of Toastmasters came out during the Topics session! Another great night for speaking with a number of top-notch highlights and more good news on the membership front. Stepping in at the last minute as Topics Master, Adrian Yardley produced an unusual, challenging and very enjoyable Topics session, based on the Cluedo detection board game. Each of the speakers rose to the challenge, but a special mention goes to Graham Simpkins for delivering his best performance yet since joining Toastmasters. Witty, composed, inventive. What more could an audience ask for. A special mention goes too to Parveena Gidda. Accompanying her Dad, Sarinder, Parveena took to the floor with aplomb when invited to play a role in Adrian's murder mystery game. Ian Haynes, however, took the best topics speaker award for his very convincing portrayal of a very modern Colonel Mustard. Margaret Bollen, Sarah Evans and Sarinder entertainingly filled the supporting roles in this extended session. The extension followed a list of last minute call-offs that would not have disgraced an unattractive Scotland football friendly, leading to late reshuffling and some degree of cursing from Dave Minzey, Toastmaster of the evening. As an agenda that originally featured four prepared speeches shrank to just the one, Dave's howls of anguish could be heard echoing across the town. Huge thanks go to Margaret Bollen for stepping into the breach at virtually the last minute, putting together a speech from scratch, and delivering it before she had even formally joined the club. At the committee meeting immediately following, Margaret was formally elected as the new Sergeant-at-Arms, a role she has been filling for the past few weeks. She promises a new strictness and tight discipline, and exemplary punishment for anyone who doesn't switch off their mobile phones and/or blackberries. Ian Haynes also took the evening's best humour award, and deservedly so, while Danny Moody walked away with the honours for best evaluator. Recruitment continues to be healthy, with the average running at one new member per meeting since the relocation to Herons Lodge. The subtle change in atmosphere that is taking place at the new venue is well worth sampling on a regular basis.

Stages & Players - 9th November 2005 Brian and Margaret Bollen at the Gala Banquet on the Saturday The Toastmasters District 71 Autumn Conference, with the theme “All the World’s a Stage” took place over the weekend of 5th & 6th November at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Royal Leamington Spa. Representing Toastmasters in Milton Keynes were Dave & Carol Minzey, Roger Crews & Chris Mitchell, and Brian & Margaret Bollen. The conference included the District Humourous Speech and Table Topics contests and, according to those present, the standard was superb. District conferences are a great opportunity to get together with other Toastmasters, learn a bit in the educational sessions, and see what standards it is possible to aspire to through the Toastmasters programme. And not forgetting that it is also a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and prop up the bar in to the wee small hours! A couple more photos... Humorous Speech Competition winner Gerry French, with the spoils of success! Dave and Carol Minzey. Honesh, we didn't tush a drop! Brian and Margaret Bollen dressed as Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, and Queen Elizabeth for the Tudor Fancy Dress evening

"Dave's New Club" Charter Dinner - 14th October 2005 NBS Club President Dave Minzey receives the Charter from District President Lynda Molloy North Bucks Speakers, the newest Toastmasters Club in Division G held its Charter Dinner on Friday 14th October 2005 with thirty Toastmasters present. The prestigious event took place at the Shenley Church Inn in Milton Keynes and the illustrious guest list included the Immediate Past District Governor, David Thompson, the current District Governor, Lynda Molloy, Club Mentor, Angus Galbraith, District PR Officer, Gary Sander, Area (25) Governor Sue Sander and Division Governor Teresa Dukes. The three-course dinner was followed, of course, by after dinner speeches that hailed the efforts of key founder members Dave Minzey and Roger Crews. North Bucks Speakers is the fifth club in Area 4, which includes sister club Eldergate Toastmasters, based in Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes, of which Dave and Roger are also members. "As Eldergate grew it was time to seed another club" says Dave Minzey, "we felt there was a need for another club, meeting on a different day at a different time, and we felt Milton Keynes could support it". Roger added "All we needed was a venue and some members - how hard could it be to start a new club? We soon found out!" North Bucks Speakers now has an active membership of twenty five and growing, and the club made a good showing in the recent Area Humorous Speech & Table Topics Contest, the first contest it has been able to take part in. It proves the club is here to stay and has a bright future in the Toastmasters family. More photos from the evening >>>

Scottish Eyes Are Smiling - 3rd September 2005 Eldergate President Danny Moody (right) presents Brian Bollen (left) with 1st prize. Scottish eyes are smiling, as Loughton-based journalist and novelist Brian Bollen prepares to represent Milton Keynes in the next round of the annual humorous speech competition held by Toastmasters International. Brian won the local heat of this year's event, which was held at The Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford on the evening of Friday, September 2. His speech told the tale of an incident dating back to his teenage years in the summer of 1974, relating the chaos that can ensue when Swiss logic comes up against a lethal combination of lateral thinking, stubbornness, and downright naivety. Esmé Driver, meanwhile, a Stony Stratford-based life coach, also took honours in her first attempt at competition level speaking. Esmé won the award for best improvised speech of the evening on the subject of ID cards in Britain, finishing ahead of club president Danny Moody (second place) and Brian Bollen (third). The next stage of the competition, the area heat, is scheduled to take place at The Well, Willen, on the afternoon of October 9. It will feature contestants from a total of five clubs.

Eldergate Toastmasters On The Move - 23rd August 2005 Eldergate President Danny Moody bids farewell to Stone & Webster. Eldergate Toastmasters is on the move. Marking a new stage in the development and maturity of the public speaking and leadership skills development club, Eldergate Toastmasters is moving to a new home, the Heron's Lodge Guide Centre in Loughton. "After almost 20 years camping out in the local headquarters of our original sponsoring company, Stone & Webster, the time has come for a change," said club president Danny Moody as he closed the club's last meeting on the Stone & Webster Witan Gate premises on August 22. "The club has grown significantly in recent years into a vibrant forum for the development of the speaking skills of all its members. It has proved awkward for Stone & Webster to continue providing us with the accommodation we need, particularly as its own business continues to grow strongly." "We would like to thank Stone & Webster formally and publicly for their hospitality, patience and forebearance and wish them as bright a future as we envisage for ourselves in our new home, going from strength to strength." The first meeting of Eldergate Toastmasters at the Heron's Lodge Guide Centre in Loughton will be on September 12. The club name will remain unchanged, as will the starting time of 5.45pm for its vigorous, enjoyable and educational meetings. "Guests will also continue to be welcomed, as warmly as before," said Danny Moody, after the emotion of the farewell meeting had subsided. "We firmly believe there is no faster-acting or cost-effective self-development programme as the Toastmasters International model. Virtually every single member I have seen join during my own time as a member has grown quickly and significantly in confidence and ability, both in public speaking and in taking charge of a meeting. At Eldergate Toastmasters, as with other Toastmasters clubs, you learn by doing. You want to speak in public? We'll have you on your feet speaking in public. Guaranteed." For further details on the move and other upcoming Toastmasters events, including the annual Humorous Speech competition scheduled for The Cock Hotel on September 2, contact Danny Moody on 01295 768090, or Brian Bollen on 01908 234952.

Club Hands Over With 31 Members - 4th July 2005 Eldergate has finished the year with a very healthy membership of 31. The Toastmasters year runs from 1st July to 30th June and outgoing President Mr Roger Crews has enjoyed a very successful term. 19 new members have been recruited and the club is to be recognised as a President's Distinguished Club by Toastmasters International, the highest honour bestowed on individual clubs in recognition of the achievements throughout 04/05.

Talk Up Toastmasters Award Achieved - 11th April 2005 The Eldergate Club successfully met the targets of the Talk Up Toastmasters Award by recruiting 4 new members between 1st January and 31st March 2005. This brings the official club membership to 24. The award encourages clubs in their membership drives and provides a target to aim for. Recruiting activities included advertising, leafleting at MK train station and having several articles printed in local newspapers.

Moira Anderson Beats Drugs - 3rd February 2005 Moira Anderson beat drugs in the first round of this year's Toastmasters International speaking competition held locally on Monday, January 31. Though in this case the Moira Anderson in question is not Scotland's best-known tartan-clad shortbread-eating singer, and the drugs in question are strictly tea and coffee. Milton Keynes-based freelance journalist Brian Bollen won the title of Eldergate Toastmasters speaker 2004-05 with his story about the death of the age of innocence, which he says happened on the day after he was born. The story is based on the disappearance and presumed murder of an 11-year-old girl called Moira Anderson from outside her home in Coatbridge, a small town in Scotland, in February 1957. His moving tale beat off the challenge of fellow Toastmaster Julian Edwards, delivering a wry, informative talk on the unsuspected dangers lurking in the daily cuppa. Brian now moves on to represent Eldergate Toastmasters in the area heat, to be held in Leighton Buzzard on March 10. Mark Harrison, reigning humorous champion at Eldergate, took the honours in the speech evaluation competition that took place the same night, and will be hoping to repeat the feat in the area final come March 10. Further information on this and other upcoming Toastmasters events is available from any committee member.

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