The London Speaker

Public Speaking - London

Tues 29 May 7pm Story Speech evening + Jakub Pawlowski's award winning speech at Meridien Speakers more below Wed 13 June: 6.15pm Celebrate 10 Years of Achievement with WiBF Speakers Canary Wharf Sat 16 June: get ready for the Berkeley Square Speakers Shakespearathon at Speakers Corner!! More below Watch the video of the 2011 World Champion of Public Speaking here

If you're a member of a Toastmasters International speaking club based in and around London or if you're interested in public speaking in the capital and beyond - you are in the right place.

Thinking of joining one of our clubs? Links to our clubs websites are listed in the side bar. You are very welcome to visit for free to see what we are all about. You will find useful tips on public speaking and leadership here. And information on upcoming events we hope you will want to attend.

If you are a member of a London club, this site will highlight ideas from neighbouring Toastmasters clubs that may be of benefit to you and your club. You will also learn about your fellow members, find useful resources, pick up tips and hear about upcoming events on the Toastmasters calendar.

If you are from a club outside London, Hullo! You'll find plenty here for you too. Please just join in and let us know the great events happening in your part of the world.

If you have questions about Toastmasters International please get in touch. If you have an idea for an article, or an event to publicise talk to us either in the comments or directly by email

Look forward to hearing from you and meeting you soon.

Join us to celebrate WiBF Speakers - 10 years of achievement!

From Odile Hounkpatin, President Women in Banking and Finance Speakers -Canary Wharf

Dear Toastmasters and Guests,

WiBF Speakers - Canary Wharf club would like to thank all those who have supported us in our 10 years of existence. During this period, hundreds of women have improved their leadership and communication skills, expanded their network and inspired people around them.

To celebrate this striking achievement, we would like to invite you to our 10 year anniversary meeting on the 13 June 2012. The meeting will have a special format and will be followed by drinks and nibbles in a nearby bar.

Date: 13 June 2012. Time: 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start

Venue: Credit Suisse, 1 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, E14 4QJ

Please contact Andrea Morris (Click here to email) or Odile Hounkpatin (Click here to email) to put your name on the guest list.

Storytelling Speech Night + an extra treat... tomorrow 29 May 2012

From Damian Igbe, VP Education, Meridien Speakers

Ever been to toastmaster meetings without Table topics? It means that you can have peace of mind while listening to the speeches. So come along to Meridian speakers, Greenwich which is hosting a speech night on 29 May 2012 featuring 6 story telling speeches from its members.

To crown the night, Jakub Pawlowski of Polish your Polish Toastmasters is giving his speech "Pay It Forward". He'll also answer your questions about his preparation for the international speech contest etc. in a Q&A section.

This is an opportunity to listen 6 inspirational speeches as well as seeing Jakub's amazing speech that wowed the audience at the UK & Ireland International Speech Contest finals.

The meeting starts at 7.00pm in the Upstairs function room, Spanish Galleon, 48 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 9BL(http://www.meridianspeakers.org/). We're close to Cutty Sark DLR and other stations.

Everyone is welcome. No Registration is required so just come along.

Icebreaking twins at Croxley Communicators

From Andrew P Bennett Area 45 Governor Immediate Past President Berkeley Square Speakers

Could this be a first for Toastmasters International? On Tuesday 22 May 2012 twin brother and sister Alireza and Farnaz Fallahi both gave their Ice breaker speeches at the newly chartered Croxley Communicators (GBST).

Alireza's title was 'Do we create our own destiny or is it written on our foreheads?' and Farnaz gave us ' Living in the UK.'

A glass of Bucks Fizz and a toast from Founder President Kath Bartley to celebrate the chartering set the meeting off to a terrific start. First time Toastmaster Andy Moorley facilitated with talent, style and humour, Grammarian James Herriott chose 'Jubilation' as the word of the day. Club Mentor Nick Wilson ( Berkeley Square Speakers) responded with a jubilant General Evaluation. My own contribution as Club Sponsor was a talk from the Better Speaker series ' Preparation and Practice.'

What a pleasure to see this new corporate club aiming for the highest standards , particularly in terms of meeting organization, while maintaining a joyful atmosphere!

Photo from left to right Alireza Fallahi, Area 45 Governor Andrew P Bennett, Farnaz Fallahi, Founder President Kath Bartley

Join us for a Shakespearathon

From  Area 45 Governor Andrew Bennett

Fellow Toastmasters Berkeley Square Speakers are delighted to invite you to celebrate World Shakespeare Year with a Shakespearathon. This will take place on Saturday June 16th , 11.30 am at Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park.

On the programme will be rumbustuous Table Topics in Elizabethan and Jacobean Style followed by learned Evaluations , the most famous speeches from the Bard's plays rendered by our members and a choral reading of 'All the world's a stage.'

There will be a bring and share picnic at around 13.00. Do put this date in your diary and come along!

picture by: bildungskatastrophe

Transatlantic Toastmaster at Lewisham Speakers

From Flavia Gordon, VP PR, Lewisham Speakers Club

On Wednesday 16 May 2012, as Toastmasters and guests gathered at Lewisham Speakers,  Lewisham Methodist Church, the air buzzed with anticipation and excitement as one of our guests, a Transatlantic Toastmaster had been gently reserved to speak.

We were not disappointed.

Garret Garrels, the D78 International Speech winner from Helena, Montana and a semi-finalist in Las Vegas in 2011, shared with us his personality, speaking prowess and charisma as he delivered a heart felt speech, his entry for the World Championships of Public Speaking. Garret's speech was based on a story relating overcoming a personal obstacle in his life. As he masterly delivered his speech we were transported out of the UK to a cold day in Sweden; we shivered with him, felt and laughed with him as his story unfolded.

We wish Garret much good luck as he continues on his Toastmaster journey and competes in Orlando, Florida later in August during the Toastmasters International Convention.

Champion Speakers Night 22 May 2012

From Jakub Pawlowski, President Polish Your Polish

As per our bimonthly tradition Polish Your Polish is going English again! We will be regaled by speeches from three very distinguished speakers:

• Phillip Khan-Panni: A UK & Ireland Speech Champion and Silver medallist in the World Championship of Public Speaking.
• Ola Aralepo: 2011 UK & Ireland Humorous Speech Champion
• Jakub Pawlowski: 2012 London Division B International Speech Champion

When: 6.45pm prompt for start at 7pm. Where: Ognisko Polskie, 55 Prince’s Gate, Exhibition Road, SW7 2PN, near South Kensington Underground station.

We split the roles equally between our members and guests so there will also be opportunity to see in action some very distinguished Toastmasters from other clubs. It's going to be a cracker of a meeting so if you have a free meeting please join us. And if you're not free....think about rearranging your appointments because the next English meeting at PYP won't be until 2 months time...

Polish Your Polish is so far the only Polish-speaking Toastmasters club in the UK. Founded in 2007 and still going strong! We met on every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7pm. http://polishyourpolish.org.uk/english/

Berkeley Square Speakers - a delightful guest!

From Andrew P Bennett Area 45 Governor Immediate Past President Berkeley Square Speakers

Berkeley Square Speakers were thrilled and honored to welcome Mark Hunter 2009 World Champion of Public Speaking to their regular meeting at the Lansdowne Club on May 16th.

Mark performed the role of General Evaluator and gave  thoroughly apposite and helpful recommendations which were greatly appreciated by the members.

We thoroughly enjoyed Mark's company during the meeting which included a storytelling project adaptation of Chaucer from Sean Glasgow, Andrew Stead's No.9 CC speech entitled ' Titanicism' and Vinit Nagarajan's No.5 CC' Fear of the Dentist!'

Thank you Mark, happy speaking and until we meet again!

Hear Jakub's International Speech Wednesday 16 May 2012

From Andy Pape, Area 47 Governor

Jakub Pawlowski is giving his speech Pay It Forward at Society Speakers this Wednesday evening.

This is a great chance to see the amazing speech that wowed the audience at the UK and Ireland International Speech Contest finals. The meeting starts at 7.10pm at the Fitzrovia Community Centre near Goodge Street (address via link www.societyspeakers.org). Everyone is welcome. 

Society Speakers is a new Toastmasters club for people who want to effectively spread the message about the causes they feel passionately about. We welcome the support of fellow Toastmasters so our members can thrive and have maximum impact for good.

Power of Words Workshop with the District 78 International Speech Champion Thursday 17 May 2012

From Michelle Cheung, President Imperial College Speakers

This Thursday we have a double event:  A workshop called Word Power and a chance to hear a champion speaker (someone you won't have heard before). This event is free to attend. All members and guests welcome.

Most people travel annually to the USA to have the privilege of witnessing the high standard of World Champion Speakers.

Save yourself a plane ticket - this Thursday after our workshop, we are absolutely delighted to welcome Garret Garrels, the D78 International Speech winner, who will present his contest entry for the World Championships of Public Speaking!!!

Word Power: As speakers and presenters we have something to say. But how can we grab people’s attention? Help them grasp our content quickly? And guarantee that our message in remembered days, weeks, months later?

The secret is in how you craft your words.

In this interactive workshop, led by Dorothea Stuart MSc, we’ll explore examples from great speakers and craft words to engage our audiences and make our message stick. Come along and build your word power.

Where: Sir Alexander Fleming, Room 119

When: Thursday 17th May 2012, 18:30–19:30

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday.

Lynne Cantor wins UK & Ireland Evaluation Contest

From David West in Wexford

Great news from Wexford.  Our London Toastmasters Evaluation Champion Lynne Cantor (Excalibur Speakers and WiBF Speakers- City) won the UK & Ireland Evaluation Contest this morning.

In second place was Bob Nisbet (Guildford Speakers and a long time member of Excalibur) and in third place Ivo Spreeuwenberg of Spa Speakers.

Congratulations to all the winners.

David sounded particularly happy to have been at a conference where our London members did so well!