Toastmasters UK North & Ireland

Stevenage Speakers – Becoming Club President at 21 and Area Director at 22

Joanna George joined Stevenage Speakers in 2023, when she was early on in her apprenticeship scheme, and since then, has become the Club President in 2025-2026 and now the Area Director for 2026-2027 for Area 20. She shows excellence in communication and leadership skills, bringing new ideas to every club, and shows that age is just a number! She … Read more

Capital Communicators in Edinburgh celebrating achieving Smedley Distinguished

Capital Communicators in Edinburgh celebrated achieving the Smedley Distinguished status award with Zara’s grandmother’s chocolate cake at our Tuesday meeting, following which a few Toasties enjoyed a drink at Deacon Brodies pub on the Royal Mile. Well done to Mel Cunningham, our President who steps up to Area Director (in the bright blue shirt) and everyone who … Read more

Celebrating Corporate Toastmasters in District 71

Section: Celebrating Corporate Toastmasters in District 71 We have a vibrant community of over 20 Corporate Toastmasters Clubs in District 71 and we took great joy in celebrating the educational achievements of Corporate Club Members at a special recognition event on Friday 10th July 2026. Corporate Clubs focus on the development of their employees’ communication … Read more

Two Years of Conversations That Matter

For the past two years, Toastmasters Unplugged has been shining a spotlight on the people who make District 71 such a vibrant and inspiring community. Created to showcase our members and spark thought-provoking conversations, the show has welcomed champions, leaders, authors, mentors, conference organisers, and many others with a story worth sharing. From personal journeys … Read more

Fingal Toastmasters Celebrates 40 Years

Fingal Toastmasters recently celebrated a significant milestone – 40 years of helping members build confidence, communication, and leadership skills. The anniversary celebration brought together members past and present, distinguished guests, and friends from across the Toastmasters community to honour the club’s rich history and achievements. Fingal is proud to be the home club of Ted … Read more

In Valencia

Valencia filled the river bed And planted trees, with cycle paths And grassy banks and purple flowers Between the bridges that still spanned The wide expanse where once had flowed The brown and brackish Turia. Beneath their arches homeless men Placed mattresses to claim their space, A dormitory when darkness falls, But in the brightness of the day They silently slip down and stroll To where they … Read more

The Sock Drawer

I buy a box of four in nudeTo add to my ever increasingforlorn collection of footwear Last year’s pop socks have mingled, matedand mutated, into a mass of mousy brown hosierynone quite the same shade Twenty five in total, a partner lost somewhere.Called passion killers by a former lover.No one notices them now. Doreen O’Keeffe

An Ordinary Life, Intentionally

I prefer small moments.They don’t insist.They don’t apply for memory. A kettle considers boiling—not yet a decision,just a tremor. Light enters the kitchenas if it had forgottento knock yesterday. Coffee arrives first,announcing nothing,only being itself. No one would nominate thesefor importance.They lack witnesses, applause, a date. I used to trust larger things—milestones with proper names,occasions … Read more