The London Toastmasters Blog

The Toastmaster Has A Way With Words

February 29, 2012 By WebMaster

He is predominantly a professional practitioner in presentation and proper procedure, primarily an expert in protocol, privilege, priority, precedence, procession and propriety.

After preparing preliminaries with the president, principal or producer, and prefacing with his preamble, he will promptly proclaim: ?Pray silence!? then pronounce, project, praise, promulgate and propose in precise, profound prose.

His prominent presence, profile and pragmatic proficiency in the programme will prevent problems, protect probity, and, preserving principle and pride, provide prestige to your production.

Promise.

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell is not only a Master of Ceremonies,?but he is also the?London Toastmaster. If you want to make your?event one to run smoothly and on time, then why not?contact Richard to check his availability.

The Toastmasters Ball 2012

December 20, 2011 By WebMaster

Saturday January 7th 2012

Lancaster London Hotel, W2

The Toastmasters' Ball 2012, Saturday 7th January 2012 at the 5 start Lancaster Hotel, (formerly The Royal Lancaster)

It is an honour to have been elected as President of the Society of London Toastmasters but a responsibility comes with the position ? to stage and host the Toastmasters? Ball which will take place on 7th January at the 5-Star Lancaster London hotel, Lancaster Gate W2. There, we Toastmasters will treat our clients, colleagues, families and friends to a wonderful high-quality banquet and entertainment.

Tickets are available for only ?75 for which you would receive a reception drink, a four-course dinner with half a bottle of wine and enjoyment of a musical cabaret, a magic act and dancing until the small hours.

You could win two British Airways Club World return tickets to New York, tickets to Test Match cricket at Lord?s, luxury hampers, champagne and dinner in top London hotels in the fun games we run during the evening.

Come and join us!

To book tickets to the Toastmasters? Ball, telephone 020 7730 3725 or click on the Toastmasters Ball link or email [email protected]

Richard Birtchnell the Royal Toastmaster

January 5, 2011 By WebMaster

Chatham House, otherwise known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, awarded its prestigious Chatham House Prize for 2010 to His Excellency President Abdullah G?l of Turkey. Her Majesty The Queen as Patron presented the award and former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir John Major, as President acted as host. This splendid event was held at Banqueting House Whitehall Palace. I made announcements and guided the principals.

Photography is by Matt Link.

London Toastmaster at Lords

November 2, 2010 By WebMaster

Richard Birtchnell in the Long Room at Lord's. Photo by Matthew Beedle.

Richard Birtchnell Called to Lords

One day, I was performing at the House of Lords and the next at the iconic cricket ground of Lord?s. I need no reminding that it is an enormous privilege in my occupation to be regularly entering the private spaces of such institutions and for the briefest of moments, becoming part of their history.

Here for example I am in the Long Room at Lord?s, where for 120 years, every international cricketer has passed through, either to make an entrance onto the hallowed turf as a player or to enjoy its hospitality. The walls proudly display portraits of famous players, from WG Grace to Shane Warne. Lord?s was established in 1787 and is named after the MCC?s founder, Thomas Lord.

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell is not only a Master of Ceremonies,?but he is also a City of London Toastmaster. If you want to make your?event one to run smoothly and on time, then why not contact Richard to check his availability.

Richard at Lincoln's Inn Great Hall

September 22, 2010 By WebMaster

London Toastmaster at Lincoln's Inn's Great Hall

I recently had the privilege of performing in one of London’s finest and most-treasured banqueting halls, at the?heart of Lincoln’s Inn, the earliest of the four great Inns of Court of which Barristers and Judges are members.

It is in the Great Hall where graduating law students are called to the Bar and where debates, lectures and concerts take place. Its historic facilities are available for private hire and on this occasion I was Toastmaster at an awards dinner hosted by Euromoney Energy Events.

Photo: Richard Birtchnell toasting at Lincoln’s Inn’s Great Hall

Photo by Ally Carmichael

Wedding Toastmaster

June 7, 2010 By WebMaster

Wedding Toastmaster Duties

The following short video is of Richard Birtchnell, the London Toastmaster, explaining the wedding toastmasters duties.

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell is a Wedding Toastmaster in London. If you want to make your wedding one to remember and to run smoothly, then why not contact Richard to check his availability.

Wedding Toastmasters in London | London Toastmasters Wedding

Richard Toasting at the State Opening of Parliament

June 7, 2010 By WebMaster

London Toastmaster, Richard Birtchnell with Jill Pay, the first woman Serjeant-at-Arms

An interesting and privileged assignment this week – acting as Toastmaster for the Inter-Parliamentary Union which traditionally hosts a reception at the Houses of Parliament for, among other dignitaries, Ambassadors and High Commissioners after attending the State Opening formalities. My task was to announce these distinguished guests to the hosts. Although most of them have difficult to pronounce names, I am spared risk and embarrassment because correct protocol dictates that Ambassadors are referred to by their countries – as in, for example, “His Excellency The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany”. Incidentally, for anoraks among you, an Ambassador is ‘of’ the country and a High Commissioner is ‘for’ the country, as in “Her Excellency The High Commissioner for the Maldives”. In the picture I am with Jill Pay, the first woman to be appointed Serjeant-at-Arms, a position that dates back to 1415. She is responsible for security at the House of Commons and ceremonially carries the mace during the opening of Parliament and each day processes with it ahead of the Speaker into the chamber.

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell,?the?london toastmaster ?who covers? all types of events, from the State Opening of Parliament to weddings,?all over London and beyond. If you want your event to run smoothly, on time and with a bit of pizazz, why not contact Richard now?to check his availability.

No.1 Mayfair: The London Party Venue

May 19, 2010 By WebMaster

Champagne, burlesque and a magical forest inside a Gothic church. This can only be Mayfair

Toastmaster Richard Birtchnell at No.1 Mayfair

I was Toastmaster at the 50th birthday party of Amanda Eliasch held at the recently decommissioned St Mark’s Church in North Audley Street, now renamed No.1 Mayfair. It is a rather special party venue, mainly because the 150 year old internal d?cor, stained-glass windows and structure of the gothic Grade 1 building are intact and you really feel as if you are in church, which feels bizarre. The guests danced at the altar, the DJ’s rig was in the organ space, my announcements were from the pulpit. There was top musical talent and a burlesque show. One entertaining distraction available to guests during the evening was an unusual PHOTOBOOTH run by Jon-X and Rita Dobo. With their fertile imagination, in the past two years they built haunted castles, 16th century boudoirs, Japanese gardens, magical forests, and desert islands. Partygoers have survived airplane crashes, hitchhiked a Harley, fought tigers & posed with pumas or had their teeth pulled out at a dentist surgery! They use no green screen technology or other usual gimmicks, instead they build tailor-made 3D photo booths. There are no digital effects or post-production involved and the sets give a huge, real life, visual impact. The “models” are the attending guests who play, pose and act within the sets. For more information, go to www.bigbigday.com

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell, a?london toastmaster ?who covers events all over London and beyond. If you want your event to run smoothly, on time and with a bit of pizazz, why not contact Richard now?to check his availability.

London Toastmaster Enters Eggheads

March 17, 2010 By WebMaster

Richard Teams Up to Challenge the Eggheads

I was recently captain of a team of Toastmasters invited to challenge the highly-regarded ‘Eggheads’ who appear nightly on BBC2. For those who are unfamiliar with the format, the ‘Eggheads’ are a team of Britain’s most successful quiz and game show champions and in each episode a different challenging team attempts to beat them through a series of rounds for a cash prize. As our particular show is not to be broadcast until Autumn 2010, I am not at liberty reveal the outcome until after transmission.

Anyone may create a challenging team. Application forms are available from the BBC. If satisfactory at this stage, there follows an audition which involves mental and presentational skills and if through, the team is taken to Glasgow where the programme is filmed and although a little scary it was great fun to participate.

In the photograph the Eggheads are standing left to right: CJ, Chris, Barry, Daphne, Kevin and show host Jeremy Vine and seated, looking very smart I am sure you will agree, are my Toastmasters team left to right: Mike Jacobs (standby), Richard Birtchnell, Neil Hunt, Ian Low, Tony Forward and Roger Galton-Davies.

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell, now a celebrity Toastmaster?after appearing on BBC TV’s Eggheads, covers events all over London and beyond. Why not contact Richard to check his availability.

Wedding Ideas Awards 2010

January 29, 2010 By WebMaster

The London Toastmaster?and The Wedding Ideas Awards 2010

: The Wedding Ideas Awards 2010

The Wedding Ideas Awards are the UK’s only wedding industry awards voted for by real brides and on 22nd January 2010 ?the winners were announced at a ceremony and celebratory lunch held at the Andaz Hotel, Liverpool Street. Guest presenter was TV personality Jenni Falconer and I had the honour of being the Toastmaster/MC. During the afternoon guests were delighted with a cabaret performed by ‘Incognito’ who were truly wonderful. The three singers pose as guests, then develop an excuse to get up and sing classical arias, to everybody’s surprise. I have seen many surprise tenors and divas acts, but these were the best and I highly recommend them – check out their website at www.incognitoartists.com and for further information about Wedding Ideas and how to get your copy, go to www.weddingideasmag.com or better still, pop into your newsagent!

Toastmaster Richard Birtchnell with celebrity TV personality Jenni Falconer at the Wedding Ideas Awards 2010.

About the Author: Richard Birtchnell, a Master of Ceremonies?who covers events all over London and beyond. Why not contact Richard to check his availability.

Master of Ceremonies | London MC