Midsummer is not usually thought of as the time to make New Year resolutions! But Geoff Richardson in his winning speech last week argued that the depths of winter, in the aftermath of the Christmas whirl and facing the long dark haul to spring, is not the best time to be making them.

He charmed his audience by describing his personal answer: during the peace of a summer retreat on the beautiful and tranquil Hebridean island of Iona, he picks up two pebbles from the beach.

To one he commits all the things he resolves not to do in the coming year, and throws it far into the sea. The other becomes the repository of all his positive resolutions and this he takes home and treasures.

Stan Cantrell entertained mightily with his talk on the importance of body language in public speaking.

Himself a judo champion, he illustrated it by demonstrating the familiar victory gestures of such sporting heroes as Mo Farrer, Usain Bolt, Serena Williams and Andy Murray. The night’s third main speech at a packed meeting came from Steve Birch – recently appointed Toastmasters’ International Divisional Director for much of the South England – who described the mix of hard work and pleasure involved in organising the 40th Anniversary of the disbandment of 14th Signal Regiment reunion for his army colleagues of over 40 years earlier.

Another Steve, Steve Scarth, who had come along as a guest to see what happens at a Toastmasters’ meeting, bravely agreed to take part in the impromptu session and spoke with such poise and enthusiasm that he was voted best Table Topics speaker ahead of many experienced speechmakers. Visiting Gloucester club member (but Malvern Wells resident!) Jen Cashmore won Best Evaluator for her appraisal of Stan Cantrell’s speech.

COLIN JACKSON