Probus Club 2 of Purbeck, Swanage

On 30 October, I made a return visit to the Probus Club 2 of Purbeck who meet at the Pines Hotel in Swanage.  This time I was booked for my presentation on the Life, Literature and Laughter of Patrick Campbell, a talk I put together five years ago, just after my last visit to them. I always end it by telling the audience that this wonderful Irish writer is perhaps so fondly remembered because his was the humour of a more gentle time.

Well, those words had never been as appropriate as they were during this particular week when the headlines had already been dominated for five days by the Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross controversy. (I have written about this story and 'comedy pushing boundaries' on my other blog). This major news item made the conclusion of my talk extremely effective and topical.

Public Speaking Tip #264: Is there some element of a presentation which you have delivered many times which has suddenly acquired extra resonance because of a current (perhaps controversial) news story? Don't waste this opportunity to deliver your existing material with extra impact.

The 40 or so Probus members in attendance that morning were a very appreciative audience but it was during the lunch afterwards that I received one of the best compliments I've ever had. There was a gentleman sitting opposite me at the table who was very visually impaired. He didn't realise who I was (my voice in conversation being rather different from when I'm projecting during a talk!) and he said 'That chap this morning was a good raconteur, wasn't he?'

I also received a written testimonial from their Programme Secretary Bill Knight, who wrote:

"Thank you so much for your talk which was greatly enjoyed by us all. It was a delight to get to know more about Patrick Campbell's life...I already know that several of our members are busy browsing second hand book shops and surfing the web for copies of Patrick's books".

I must thank Bill for the lift from Swanage Travel Interchange and back on one of the coldest, wettest days that I have ever travelled anywhere to speak. I decided to abandon the usual pilgrimage up to Peveril Point which I make whenever I am in Swanage, turning back when I got as far as the mermaid statue near the pier.

And when I arrived home, the news was still full of that story.