Teesside Federation of Women's Institutes

I received a message from a lady who was the Chair of the Teesside Federation of Women’s Institutes who was looking to book me as a Guest Speaker for their Annual Council Meeting.

I had only done one Guest Speaker spot before which was a bit of an experiment in a village in Oxfordshire and not part of any grand plan.

The federation, which is made up of representatives from 23 Institutes across Teesside were on a holiday in the Cotswolds and, randomly, saw an article about my talk to the local WI on a notice board in a garden centre.

On their return they contacted me and the rest as they say, is history.

I turned up on the day at the venue in Middlesbrough. There were around 200 ladies in the hall who were ready for their lunch.

I tried to visit as many tables as I could, chatting and having pictures taken before lunch was ready and I had to go and eat.

My time to perform arrived and I took to the stage and spoke for about 30 minutes on the history of Town Criers and then for another 30 or so on my journey as a Town Crier.

At the end of I took some questions and, to my surprise, a rapturous round of applause.

I was then asked to make some presentations and had photographs taken with council members.

A fantastic day out. I was looked after royally!