Half a year after my first wife died tragically, I was invited to share in starting a new Toastmasters club – Bromley Speakers – in 1992. Still traumatised by my bereavement, my short- term memory was shot. Speech making helped me to get over that.
Then I learned about the International Speech Contest and rushed to qualify. One year later I won the District 71 title for the first time and went on to place third in the non-American world, in Toronto. That was 1993.
Two years later, I won the D71 title for the second time, going on to place first in the non-American world (in effect the World semi-final). In the World Final, I placed second, becoming the UK’s first (and only) World Silver Medallist in Public Speaking.
In 2001 I won the D71 title for the third time. In the next round, my lavalier mic slipped off, affecting my delivery, and I placed third.
Because my Barbershop singing clashed with Toastmasters, I took a break. But in 2016, on coming to live in Ireland with my Irish wife, Evelyn, I rejoined Toastmasters, winning the D71 for the fourth time in 2019 at Norwich.
Subsequently, I founded Wordsmiths Online, an Advanced Club for those with a fascination with (and aptitude for) the English language. We achieved Distinguished status in our very first year.
I am now Club President at Naas Toastmasters, where we have already won 9 out of the possible 10 points in the Distinguished Club Program (DCP), and seem likely to score the Perfect 10 for the first time in the club’s history.
Currently I am still competing in the International Speech Contest, although now probably the oldest contestant by a country mile.
Phillip Khan-Panni
Naas Toastmasters