Meet a Leader

Each month we focus on one of our district leaders or accomplished toastmasters. This month our PR Manager, Nigel Oseland (NO), catches up with Andy Hammond (AH), this year’s District 91 Program Quality Director (PQD).

I’ve met Andy at a few meetings and workshops now. As well as being clearly focussed and determined, he has a mischievous sense of humour.

NO. Where do you live and which club(s) are you a member of?
AH. I live in sunny LA, actually Littlehampton – called Little ‘Ampton by some locals! I have been a member of Arun Speakers in Chichester since 2001, and founded County Communicators at West Sussex County Council in 2009.

Read more

This month our PR Manager, Nigel Oseland, catches up with our new District Director, Pedro Casillas, on his way to the International Convention and finds out how he joined Toastmasters, what drives him and his interests outside of Toastmasters.

After a couple of teleconference calls, I eventually met Pedro at our DLT away day. Never mind his astute understanding of Toastmasters , I was impressed with his vast musical knowledge and was glad to hear that we have a similar taste in music, especially as he was in charge of the music system.

Read more

Simon is a very busy man. As we approach the International Convention in Vancouver, our District 91 International Speech Contest winner spends his spare time hopping on and off trains travelling to practice his two contest speeches in clubs across the district. Nigel Oseland (NO), our new D91 PR Manager caught up with Simon Bucknall (SB) on a slow and noisy train from Kent.

NO> Simon, I’m quite good at accents but can’t quite place yours; in Hamwic Speakers’ video of the District 91 Contest, you appear to be based in middle-England.

SB> I live in Streatham in South London, Guy applied artistic license to the outside of the house, but I was interviewed at the piano in my living room. I’m originally from Worcestershire but we move around a lot and I have lived in twelve different places.

Read more