John Leech 
Have you ever had a moment where everything changed? A moment you didn’t choose, didn’t expect, and couldn’t control. It might be your health. It might be redundancy. Or it might be the weight of everything that’s happening in the world right now. Whatever it is, those moments can leave us questioning whether we’re strong … Read more
He was always a postman called Dinny, in a scratchy, serge, shiny-buttoned suit – An oxtered cap lined with snotty avocado. Delivering the village’s One O’Clock News, to a headscarfed hausfrau with a five o’clock shadow. Cochlea cocked for the prompt, from his 10 years old understudy in flares and Fairisle in the front row. … Read more
The Anglia Turnaround: From Limping to Leading If your club is currently “limping” toward the finish line, feeling the weight of a fragmented committee or dwindling numbers, this story is for you. This time last year, Anglia Toastmasters was exactly there: 14 members, 3 DCP goals, and a sense of uncertainty. Today, we are a … Read more
Mary McHugh has been in toastmasters over twenty years. She is very quiet and obliging, working for the common good. I told her ten years ago I was thinking of setting up a toastmaster’s group in Tallaght and immediately she offered to help. She is an exceptional speaker and leader, filling many roles in Tallaght … Read more
Leicester City Speakers celebrates 15 extraordinary years. On the evening of 23rd April 2026, Leicester City Speakers — Club No. 1591173, Area 06, Division E, District 71 — gathered to mark a milestone fifteen years in the making. Thirty-six members and guests filled the room at 1 Richmond Street, Leicester, for a celebration that was … Read more
What was the conference like for me? Honestly? Expansive. Not because everything went perfectly. It didn’t. There were moments of exhaustion, accessibility challenges, nerves before my workshop, too much coffee, not enough sleep, and the occasional “What on earth am I doing?” moment that many of us secretly have at conferences. But somewhere between the … Read more
Psychologist Albert Marahabian is quoted as saying “we are five times as likely to be influenced by voice than by spoken words as we listen to a speaker” There is a lot of learned wisdom in his words. When one reflects on one’s tone of voice when speaking one very quickly learns about volume. Does … Read more
Like many of you reading this, I tried every trick in the Toastmasters handbook (and a few that weren’t in it!) to get mentoring up and running in my club. Everyone wants to learn… but finding the time, is the challenge. Whenever I spoke with fellow Toastmasters about being a mentor, or mentee, the same … Read more
The first District Conference I went to changed my Toastmasters life – forever.It was November 2017 in Sheffield. Several of us from Cork travelled over.I had no idea there were so many friendly people in our District. So manystrangers welcomed me warmly – were interested in me – at the “Newcomers toConference” meeting – at … Read more
During my tenure as Public Relations Manager for District 71 Toastmasters, I had the privilege of serving under the leadership of District Director Danny Banks; a leader whose approach to empowerment and trust left a lasting professional imprint.What distinguished Danny’s leadership style was his strategic restraint. He understood that high-performing teams are not built through … Read more