My dear toastmasters,
Flow with the Fall on 23rd November was a beautiful blend of connection, celebration and inspiration. We want to thank each one of you who joined us and made the day truly special. The energy in the room reflected the very best of our Toastmasters community.
Workshops That Uplifted Us
Our two keynote speakers delivered sessions that resonated deeply:
Chris Hatfield – Reframing Self-Talk
Chris encouraged us to shift our inner dialogue from “I have to” to “I want to”, empowering us to lead with intention. In a generous gesture, he gifted his book Sales Psyche to every contestant, because in our eyes, they were already winners.
Andrew Oseyami – Beyond the Club
Andrew invited us to reflect on what Toastmasters can mean beyond the four walls of our clubs. His session encouraged meaningful connection and intentional engagement with each other.
We were honoured to be joined by Region Advisor Lilian Shaftacola, who sat down with Rekha Mathew, our district podcast host, for a fireside chat. Together, they shared practical, heartfelt tips on strengthening member engagement and building vibrant clubs.
Contest Excellence
The stage was set and our contestants delivered phenomenal performances.
District 91 Humorous Speech Contest Winners
- Danny Wang
- Isaac Baker
- Yii Foong Tien
A special spotlight on Danny Wang, our champion, a new member who has been with District 91 for only nine months. His achievement shows that you don’t need to wait for the “perfect moment” to enter a contest, serve as a leader or even join a club. Talent grows when we step forward and Danny’s courage is an inspiration to all our new and aspiring members.
District 91 Table Topics Contest Winners
- Chris Billington
- Milo Warshaw
- Shenaz Banu
A particularly heartwarming moment came from Chris, a new dad, who welcomed his baby just last Sunday and chose to be with us on Sunday. His dedication and passion for Toastmasters shone through – especially when he went on to win the District Table Topics Contest. What a story to share with his baby!
Corporate Clubs and Community spirit
We also celebrate HSBC 8CS Toastmasters Club, our young corporate club just seven months old, who proudly cheered their member, a District Humorous Speech Finalist. Their commitment to excellence and support for their member reflects the strength of corporate clubs. Your performances raised the bar and made us immensely proud.
Our sincere thanks also to Toast Titans Club from HID Global, who generously gifted books and pens to our attendees, perfect for capturing insights from the day’s workshops and speeches.
Looking Forward
The season of growth continues, and we have plenty lined up:
We have several drop-in sessions planned over the next couple of months.
If there’s anything specific you’d like to learn more about, let us know and we’ll organise a session for you.
Club Officer Training round 2 sessions are coming up soon. Whether you’re a current club officer, considering stepping into leadership or simply curious about what the role entails, please visit our District Calendar to view dates and register.
Even the District Leadership Team undergoes training with our Region Advisor because learning never stops in Toastmasters.
If you’d like to know more about becoming an Accredited Speaker do reach out to Clare Crowther, our district lead who hosted an engaging, interactive session at the Flow with the Fall event.
If you’re interested in mentorship, either to receive a Mentor Buddy or to serve as a mentor, please visit our district website (https://d91toastmasters.org.uk/members/resources/mentoring/) for details.
A Note of Gratitude
To our conference team, contest functionaries, district leaders, venue hosts and each member who attended – thank you.
To those who cheered, learned, laughed, networked and contributed – you proved that even in the face of doubts, challenges (compounded by rains and train closures) and naysayers, this community stands strong.
We’re thrilled to share that this event has already inspired two toastmaster members to volunteer as Contest Chairs for 2026. That spark of motivation is exactly what we hoped this event would ignite.
When we show up for each other, extraordinary things happen. Flow with the Fall succeeded because of YOU.
The full album for the District Contest can be found on our Facebook page.
Last Updated on 28th November 2025 by Allen Paul