HONOURS continue to pile up for the Malvern Speakers club. Acting President Hilary Benoit was able to announce that the three-year-old group had been awarded the Toastmasters International award of President’s Distinguished Club 2015/2016 – latest of numerous accolades achieved in its short history.

After a series of meetings in which new members and even first-time guests had starred, seniority was re-established as speakers contended to represent the club at the next (Area) stage of the Toastmasters’ international competition. In the prepared humorous speech contest, there were plenty of laughs during founder member Roger Granville’s successful effort to persuade his audience that scientists can be human beings too, as he described several unlikely and hilarious escapades by serious boffins. Likewise for djellaba- and fez-clad Adrian Lane’s account of coming to terms with life in Egypt – and especially the surreal experience of driving there.

But it was newly-retired Geoff Richardson’s musings on “Growing Old Gracefully” that earned him the chance to represent Malvern in the next round at Ledbury on October 2nd. He revealed that consulting Google on the subject had produced 2.18 billion responses! But his own hints were fewer and down to earth (avoid wearing shorts, and eating nuts, for example) and supported his contention that we should embrace advancing age, and enjoy rather than endure it.

Oddly, that was almost exactly the message contained in the winning table topic, presented with quiet confidence and poise by septuagenarian Allan Roberts. Contestants were invited by Jackie Preuss to describe the advice they would now give their younger selves as school leavers . Allan has had a varied and interesting life and despite now being visually handicapped still writes books and is a district councillor,. His advice to himself on leaving school was “Make up you own mind what you want to do, go for it – and enjoy life!” Runner up among the five table topic speakers was Adrian Lane, who had still not forgotten advice given him when he was five: “Go and be a fireman!”.

Next meeting will be at at 7.30pm on Tuesday September 27th at the Great Malvern Hotel. Guest are always welcome to enjoy the speeches – and the interval home-made cakes for which the club is renowned!

COLIN JACKSON