A NEW TALK

I've mentioned before about a special mini talk I'm doing on Friday for one of my regular groups, but this talk, originally about Hardwick Hall, as developed into something more.

My good friend and fellow speaker Jackie Depelle, having been asked to give a talk to a group of American tourists, has recommended that the tour group approach me instead.

This particular group are visiting England specifically to visit various stately homes, including Hardwick.

Hardwick Hall - more glass than wall.

The Hardwick mini talk is not really enough to satisfy such a group so I have expanded the talk to include Chatsworth House, which has a good deal in common with Hardwick through their common owner, Bess of Hardwick.

So a new venture for me with a new audience, if it goes well I'm thinking of adding the talk to my repertoire as there may be interest in the subject from other groups.

 Model Villages continues to be a popular talk, I did three in February. It is a talk which always generates a good deal of questions and general discussion and I invariably learn something new, especially about villages which don't feature in the talk..

March is going to be a busy and varied month:

3 March (afternoon) - Wonderful Things

3 March (evening) - Monuments

4 March - The Pontefract Murder

5 March - Votes for Women

7 March - Highwaymen

11 March - Model Villages (again)

12 March - Stay Safe On-Line

13 March - Highwaymen

18 March - Crime and Punishment

19 March - Votes for Women

20 March- Monuments

Then on the 18th I've a special presentation for a regular client, outside of my normal talks program, on Hardwick Hall and 'Bess of Hardwick'.

Whew!

 

 Stay Safe On-Line

Well in my last post I was bewailing the lack of interest in 'Stay Safe On-Line', only to present it today to the Hessel U3A.

It was very well received with lots of note taking by some in the audience, and confirmation from others who recognised, and had been subjected to some of the scams I mentioned and cautioned against.

This led to some very useful and informative exchanges as people related their experiences so everyone could better understand the dangers present in the virtual world, and which made the whole presentation more personal, rather than just academic.

I understand that elements of the talk will be incorporated into the group's journal for the benefit of those not present.

I continue to hope that more groups will take this talk as it was upsetting to hear of one lady's experience, which could have been avoided had she only heard my presentation earlier.

 A talk this evening to the Aireborough Historical Society of one of my least requested subjects, 'The Battle of Culloden'.

It's a subject beset with myths which can make it difficult to connect with the audience, but tonight's seemed to be an exception and I was complimented on my impartial research.

I've another rarity next week, this time it's on 'Barnbow', the WWI munitions works near Leeds. I'm not alone in offering this talk, I suppose because it's local that a number of Yorkshire Speakers offer their own version of the creation of the works, and the explosion that occurred there in 1916.

Consequentially the market for this talk is pretty thin, most societies having had one such talk from one of the speakers at sometime.

Even so, I've given the talk 20 times since 1917, it was the second talk I gave, and in addition to next week I have another booked for later in the year.

My most popular talk continues to be 'The Gunpowder Plot' by a substantial margin, with  'Canals' in second place and 'After You're Dead' and 'Model Villages' not far behind.

Even though it's a relatively new talk I'm pleased that 'Highwaymen' has done as well as it has although I'm disappointed that more people don't book 'Stay Safe On-Line' as with the ever-increasing 'scams' now so prevalent it is more important than ever that folk are wise to the dangers that modern technology brings.

 A strange set of circumstances this last few days.

A local group I've spoken to a couple of times asked if I could possibly fill a vacant speaker engagement at short notice, as the Speaker Secretary had been unable to contact the previously booked speaker.

I agreed but much to my surprise, the morning before the scheduled talk, I received another 'phone call saying the original speaker had made belated contact and was ready to go.

We agreed to let the original booking stand and I withdrew, or so I thought!

Another 'phone call on the evening of the event, this time in full-on panic mode. The speaker had arrived but had no screen, and this particular venue does not have a suitable blank wall for projection onto - please, please could they borrow my screen?

Of course I agreed but it made me wonder just how some speakers get away with it. You only have to trawl through Speakernet to see how many speakers expect the venue to provide a screen, and sometimes a projector as well. Some speakers turn up with their presentations just on a memory stick and expect the venue to provide the whole gamut of equipment necessary for the talk.

Personally I think this a cop out, if you profess to being a professional speaker then you should arrive at the venue  prepared with all that is required to make your talk a success.

 

 My New Year schedule of talks is now well under way with half a dozen in January alone.

I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve my talks and after three recent outings for the Highwaymen talk, and as a result of some audience discussion afterwards,  I've made some (small) alterations, which ended up being an almost complete re-write!

I'm also in the middle of up-dating 'Stay Safe On-Line' as on-going events can quickly render such a talk obsolete.

I've some new client groups this year, notably the West Riding Woodcarvers Association, the Olicana History Society and the Phratry Harrogate Supper Club as well as some old favourites, the Thornton Antiquarian Society and the Boothferry Local & Family History Group.

 Well my Christmas break is over, it's now 2025 so it's back to work.

Two talks next week, both to groups I've spoken to in the past, Garforth Probus want the new 'Monuments' talk while the Skipton Retired Men's Forum have asked for 'Highwaymen'.

Then a busy following week with talks on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th - wow!

That'll keep me out of mischief!