Detailed opening speech sets the tone

The duty of conducting the latest meeting of East Kilbride Speakers’ Club fell to Ross Hammond as he took the chair for the evening.

In a very informative opening speech, Ken Murray continued from the formation of the first Mafia family in the USA in 1903.

This concluded his previous speech to describe in wellresearched detail the means by which, during the years that followed, the Mafia grew from that single source to become the network of organised crime in America that we hear of today.

Tony Dinwoodie then told how, as a 12-year-old, a school trip to the theatre to see a production of MacBeth inspired a desire in him to develop an understanding and appreciation of the works of William Shakespeare.

He transmitted this enthusiasm to his audience as he identified a selection from the vast number of words and phrases created by Shakespeare that we use in everyday conversation now.

Food for thought was provided by Isobel Dunlop in a speech where she challenged people’s perceptions of leading figures from both distant and recent history who have reputations for courage, kindness or generosity but on closer examination have less attractive traits that are overlooked for the most part and deserve more attention.

The captivating conversational style of Isobel Dinwoodie was to the fore in a speech where she defended modern pop music against charges of being “rubbish” compared to that of the past.

Her speech generated much debate as she presented a case for modern music being different and accessible to today’s generation and should not be considered unfavourably against that of the past.

The topics presented by Peter Kerr provided the impromptu speakers with subjects that they could voice their opinions on with conviction and Ewan McRobert gave all the evening’s participants sound advice that was concise and to the point in his general evaluation of the overall programme.

Visitors wishing to come along to the club’s meetings are most welcome and details can be obtained from secretary Paul Munday on (01355) 223894.