International Speech Contest Toastmasters UK South
Every year members of Toastmasters around the world compete in the International Speech Contest. Members enter club contests to develop their skills as speakers. They hope to progress through to become our District International Speech Champion. Previous district winners are listed below. Our district winner goes on to compete in one of the world semi-finals.
The contest culminates at the Toastmasters International Convention when one of the winners from the semi-final stage becomes the World Champion of Public Speaking.
Year | Contest winner | Club | World Championship |
D91 | |||
2017 | Simon Bucknall |
Excalibur | World Championship – 2nd place |
2016 | Thien Nguyen Phan |
St Paul’s Speakers | World semi-finals – 1st place |
2015 | Jeremy Robinson |
NZICA Bank Speakers | |
D71 | |||
2014 | Chris Boden | Maidenhead Speakers | |
2013 | William Dempster | HOD Speakers | |
2012 | Yvonne Jordan | Enniscorthy Toastmasters | World semi-finals – 3rd place |
2011 | Malachi Talabi | Croydon Communicators | World semi-finals – 3rd place |
2010 | Erick Rainey | Manchester Orators | |
2009 | Gareth McHale | North Avon Speakers | |
2008 | Sultan Nazir | Rathfarnham Toastmasters | |
2007 | Simon Bucknall | London Cardinals | Inter-District – 2nd place |
2006 | Simon Bucknall | London Cardinals | |
2005 | Erick Rainey | Capital Communicators | World Championship – 3rd place |
2004 | Erick Rainey | Capital Communicators | Inter-District – 2nd place |
2003 | Bob Harvey | Bromley Speakers | |
2002 | Bob Ferguson | Hertfordshire Speakers | |
2001 | Phillip Khan-Panni | London Athenians | |
2000 | Brendan Toale | Glasnevin Toastmasters | Inter-District – 1st place |
1999 | Paul Ellis | Lucan Toastmasters | |
1998 | Joseph Portley | Crusaders Club | |
1997 | Brian Cluer | Thurles Toastmasters | |
1996 | Brendan Toale | Glasnevin Toastmasters | |
1995 | Phillip Khan-Panni | Grosvenor Square Speakers | World Championship – 2nd place |
1994 | Brian Cluer | Thurles Toastmasters | |
1993 | Phillip Khan-Panni | Bromley Speakers | Inter-District – 1st place |
1992 | Adrienne Daly | Naas Club | |
1991 | David Lindsey | Thame Speakers | |
1990 | Giles Robinson | Epsom Speakers | |
1989 | Muiris O’Keefe | Bray Toastmasters | |
1988 | Patricia Foley | Eblana Dublin City Centre Club | |
1987 | Michael Fennessy | Grosvenor Square Speakers | |
1986 | Betty Gosnell | Oxford Speakers | |
1985 | Marie Pyne | Ennis Toastmasters | World Champion of Public Speaking! |
1984 | Denis Vickers | Thame Speakers | |
1983 | Ray Fullam | Dublin Toastmasters | |
1982 | Stephen Johnson | Mildenhall Toastmasters | |
1981 | Harry Knox | Waterford Club | |
1980 | Dick Cullinane | Waterford Club | |
1979 | Russ McDevitt | Dun Laoghaire Club | |
1978 | Susan Cowles | Oxford Speakers | |
1977 | David Lindsey | Aylesbury Speakers | |
1976 | Bob Annenberg | Aylesbury Speakers | |
1974 | Sean Hickey | Shannon Club | |
1973 | George Brenner | Shillelagh |

District 91’s 2014 International Speech Champion, Chris Boden