Sutton Coldfield Speakers’ Club held their annual dinner on Friday 17th April at Aston Wood Golf Club. Members and guests enjoyed a three course meal before the after dinner speeches.
Guest of honour was motivational speaker and trainer, Lorna Sheldon. Lorna persuaded us that, like her, we should not merely ‘think outside the box’; we should also ‘live outside the box’ and help others wherever possible. She recounted how, as a young mother with no business experience, she rescued an ailing Birmin
gham engineering company following a family bereavement. More recently Lorna judged a speaking competition in a South African prison. The winner so impressed her that she offered to train him further after his release. This ex-prisoner is now making the most of his skills and his life because someone showed faith in him after a prison speaking contest.
A balloon debate followed Lorna’s speech. It was a closely fought contest but Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, was the winner, beating off the inventor of television, John Logie Baird and the political editor of the BBC, Nick Robinson. As Bill Gates’ representative, Claire Worlsford-Morris was awarded the Presidents’ Cup for her persuasive speech.
The Hwyl Stone was presented to Sally Jenkins as the most improved speaker over the past year.
The next meeting will be this Thursday, the 23rd April at Aston Wood Golf Club, Blake Street, Sutton Coldfield at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Guests are welcome
Sally Jenkins