Speakers club meeting was blooming marvellous

Renfrew District Speakers Club met for their most recent meeting with club president Mary Phillips welcoming members at Ralston Golf Club.

Sheina Ross was chairman, saying that she looked forward to hearing the ideas which people might have about what was“blooming marvellous”.

Joan Milburn’s thought was about trees in winter.

She asked:“Do you enjoy the marvellous patterns, the attractive tracery of bare branches against white, blue or pink sky?”

Irene Thom began with a light note as she proclaimed: ”It’s blooming marvellous to be able to get up from the horizontal to the vertical every morning.”

Her ideas were wide-ranging. She noted magnolia in bud while crocuses and daffodils were already blooming.

She spoke of playing the piano and of sightreading. She said:“It’s blooming marvellous to read the notes and be able to sing them.”

Norma Murray, as evaluator, enjoyed the humour in the speech.

She noted that a good beginning caught the attention of the audience.

Dorothy Hamilton was next speaker. She spoke of a child being fostered and then, to that family’s delight, they were able to adopt her.

“It’s marvellous that they have three adopted children, all doing well,”she said.

She went on to note that, over time, some words changed their meanings.

For example, nice used to mean foolish or shy. She enjoyed the humour of“if you break a leg don’t come running to me”.

Sheina Ross noted that, as a late substitute, the speaker had made use of a former speech and familiar ideas. This was a good tactic when planning time was short.

Norma Murray introduced topics which were – Which is your favourite season? Do you enjoy visiting gardens? Do you take pleasure in flower arranging? Do you enjoy the poem Daffodils by WilliamWordsworth?

As Irene Thom spoke about her enjoyment of poetry this led to a chorus of members spontaneously quoting the whole of verse one of

Robert Herrick’s To Daffodils, beginning,“Fair Daffodils we weep to see you haste away so soon; As yet the early-rising sun has not attain’d his noon.”

The General Evaluator, Mary Phillips, said that without the lights and timing guide people seemed to have a good sense of timing.

She had words of advice about the height of the lectern and projecting the voice.

She noted good practice of speakers and evaluators and added that the topic on poetry was absolutely addressed.

RDSC meetings are held fortnightly at Ralston Golf Club.

The final meeting of the season will be held tonight at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome.