The first meeting of the New Year on January 14 was a great success, introducing us to a most delightful lady toastmaster, Mrs Marian Canning.

This elegant lady, dressed in a scarlet Savile Row tailored jacket over a white linen gentleman's evening shirt, recounted some of her experiences of carrying out this important duty - at high profile ceremonial functions and at private celebrations.

Marian always carries with her a black leather attache case, and we were shown some of its contents - a collection of life-savers for public speakers such as safety-pins, tights and a sewing kit. She did draw the line at replacement false teeth, although she had once assisted a man in retrieving his dentures from under the table just before he had to make his speech.

Pat Kay gave a vote of thanks in appreciation of an entertaining introduction to this aspect of public and private ceremony. The February meeting heard Mrs Marian Freeman speak on Slides of the USA. The competition theme was A Holiday Memento.