Dear past guests, current and past members of London Victorians!

Get ready to laugh, learn, and level up - because this Tuesday, 2nd September at 18:30, we’re hosting a Double Workshop Night that promises to be unforgettable.

We’re thrilled to welcome two of the District 91’s most celebrated speaking champions:

🏆 Dan Magill – “Help! I’m Not Funny”

5-time District 91 Humorous Speech Champion, Dan will guide us through the art of unlocking humour in your speeches - even if you think you’re not funny. Expect a hands-on, laughter-filled session with practical tools you can use right away.

🎥 Hear it straight from Dan himself in his video message - a sneak peek into the energy and insight he’s bringing to the room.

⚡ Paul Carroll – Mastering Impromptu Speaking

Table Topics Champion and impromptu speaking maestro, Paul will help you think (and speak) on your feet with confidence and flair. Whether you're preparing for contests or just want to sharpen your spontaneity, this workshop is your launchpad.

🍕 Stay for the Pizza, Stay for the People

After the workshops, we’ll gather for networking, pizza, and good vibes with fellow Toastmasters. It’s the perfect chance to connect, reflect, and celebrate our shared passion for growth and communication.

🎟️ This is a ticketed event, and seats are filling fast!

📍 Location: Blue Orchid Wellington Hotel, SW1P 2PA
🕕 Date & Time: Tuesday, 2nd September | Doors open at 18:30

Feel free to share it with your club and community!

Whether you're prepping for contest season or simply want to elevate your speaking game, this is your moment. Come curious, leave inspired.

Warm Regards,
Executive Committee
London Victorians Toastmasters Club

🎉 Hey London Victorians, July’s Got a Secret…

Did you feel it? That subtle shift in the air? That quiet turning of the calendar page that whispers, not of summer holidays, but of something far more thrilling: a new kind of year.

Now, you might be thinking - “A new kind of year? In July?” Yes. And not just any year. This is the year of speeches that stir, evaluations that enlighten, and goals that galvanize. The kind of year where voices grow stronger, stories grow sharper, and confidence becomes contagious.

And here’s the twist: This isn’t just a message for our loyal members - though we see you, we salute you, and we know you’ll rise to the challenge once again. It’s also for you - the curious subscriber, the guest who once walked through our doors, the speaker-in-waiting who’s wondering if now is the time.

So let me ask you:

• Have you ever wanted to speak with clarity and conviction?

• Have you ever wished you could lead a room with nothing but your voice?

• Have you ever thought, “Maybe I should give public speaking a try”?

Because July isn’t just the seventh month. In our world, it’s the first. The fresh start. The clean slate. It’s the moment the gavel passes from one hand to the next, and the club exhales old triumphs and inhales new ambition.

And the best part? You don’t need permission to begin. You only need a goal.

So whether you're a seasoned speaker setting your sights on Level 5, a new member ready to break the ice, or a guest wondering what happens next - this is your invitation.

Rejoin. Speak. Grow.

The stage is set. The spotlight is warm. And the story of this year? It’s waiting for your voice.

🥂 Happy New Toastmasters Year!!

🏆 A Year of Triumphs - DCP 10 and So Much More

Before we leap into the new year, let’s take a moment to look back - not with nostalgia, but with pride.

Under the dynamic leadership of Natalie and her committee, London Victorians achieved the coveted DCP 10/10 - the highest honour a Toastmasters club can earn. But this wasn’t just about goals. It was about momentum.

Here’s what made the year unforgettable:

• 6 Bi-Monthly Newsletters - Keeping our community informed and inspired.

• Reverse Meeting & Debate Night - Formats that flipped the script and fired up engagement.

• Workshops - From Lynne’s Evaluation Masterclass to Florian’s “The Essentials of Public Speaking”, we sharpened our skills together.

• Moments of Truth & Mentoring - Honest reflection and meaningful support that helped us grow.

• Open House Innovation - A bold new format, ticketed and transformational - 12 new members joined that night.

• High-Quality Meetings & Themed Magic - Consistently polished and purposeful, with bursts of creativity: 🎃 costumes on Halloween, 🎄 festive decor during Christmas.

• Contest Successes - Lucy (International Speech Contest Division Level Runner-Up) and Florian (Evaluation Contest District Level Runner-Up) made us proud.

• Guest Experience & Culture - Welcoming warmth, vibrant energy. A space where every voice mattered - and every guest felt they belonged.

From first visit to full member - Vini captured what many felt:

This wasn’t just a year of milestones. It was a year of movement, mastery, and magic.

🥂 Here’s to building on brilliance - and to the collective spark that made it shine.

🥳 Congratulations to Our 2025-26 Committee!

Leadership isn’t just about holding roles - it’s about holding space: for ideas, support, progress, and community.

With the President’s vision lighting the path ahead, our newly elected committee steps forward to make that future real. These are the voices who’ll shape our meetings, nurture our culture, and carry London Victorians through another inspiring year.

👏 To our 2025-26 committee: thank you for your courage, commitment, and camaraderie. We’re excited for the journey ahead - and proud to walk it beside you.

🎓 Pathways Achievements - Steps That Speaks for Themselves

In Toastmasters, every speech is more than just spoken words. It’s courage. It’s clarity. It’s progress.

The Pathways program isn’t just a curriculum - it’s a companion. It meets you where you are, nudges you where you dream to be, and helps shape the speaker, the leader, and the listener within. From icebreakers to inspiring keynotes, it’s a journey paved by persistence, reflection, and purpose.

Today, we celebrate our members who’ve taken powerful strides on that journey:

👏 Whether you’ve just begun or you’re halfway through a path - every milestone matters. Your growth is your gift to this club. Congratulations to each of you!

🎭 New Member Spotlight – Enter, Stage Left...

Every great story has its moment of arrival. At London Victorians, it's not a curtain call - it's a quiet entrance followed by a confident first line.

One member turns any table topic into fiction in fractions - blink and you’ll miss the twist. Another transforms role-play into revelation, adding flair not found in manuals. One arrives with a legacy - not just experience, but echoes from two other Toastmasters clubs. And the ribbon collector? A guest-turned-member whose streak left jaws ajar and timers scrambling. Now a member. Now a mystery.

And then there are the ones who move in silence. They speak seldom, but when they do - the silence holds its breath. Learning in the shadows, listening between the lines… Waiting for the moment to step forward.

They’re not just members. They’re momentum. A mix of mystery, mastery, and mayhem (the good kind). Each stepping into the scene, ready to deliver a line that lands.

🎬 To our new members: You’ve joined a club that celebrates courage, nurtures growth, and applauds progress - loudly and often. Your journey is already underway, and we’re excited to see where your voice takes you.

🎭 To our seasoned members: Let’s extend a hand, share a tip, and maybe even mentor a rising star. After all, every confident speaker was once a curious guest.

🎤 And the next voice to surprise us all… might be sitting beside you.

🌟 Welcome aboard - onward and upward!

💌 Feedback Zone - Your Turn to Take the Mic

This newsletter is just one voice in a club full of storytellers.

Got ideas to jazz up our meetings, spark creativity, or add more flair to our next edition? Send them to londonvictorians@gmail.com - we’re all ears.

🎭 Until then: keep speaking, keep surprising, and keep the spotlight moving.

Good Morning Victorians! ☀️

The past couple of months have been nothing short of extraordinary. It’s times like these I feel genuinely proud to be part of London Victorians. Honestly, it must be how Harry felt sitting under the Sorting Hat...

Toastmaster: "Please not Slytherin. Please not just any Toastmasters club."

Sorting Hat: "Not just any Toastmasters club, eh? I see leadership, laughter, and the power to pack out a 70-person Open House”

Sorting Hat: "Better be Gryffindor! London Victorians!"

So as we head into another exciting month, packed with our upcoming elections, a debate night, and more, let’s keep that magic alive.

Upcoming: Elections and Debate Night

It’s election season! Our committee is the heart of the club and we’re on the lookout for fresh energy, new ideas, and future leaders.

👉 Nomination Form
🗓️ Nominations close: 27 May
🗳️ Elections take place: 3 June
🔍 What do the roles involve? Find out here

Whether you're a first-year member or a seasoned speaker, there’s a role for you. Ask any current committee member what it’s like, it’s a brilliant way to develop leadership skills and shape the club’s future.

Also this month: Debate Night. This isn’t PMQ’s so there really is no pressure, just bring your wits and willingness to spar. We still need more participants, so jump in.

 Club Update

Open House Meeting, 8th April 2025

With over 70 attendees, our recent Open House was standing-room only, high energy, high turnout, and high praise all around. The buzz from that evening is still carrying into our weekly meetings. Watch our highlight reel here.

👏 Huge thanks to Nick R for the incredible organisation behind the scenes.

But how did we do it? Putting on something of this scale takes more than just enthusiasm. At Toastmasters, you don’t just learn public speaking, by helping run events like this, you get a crash course in sales, marketing, and operations. A mini MBA, if you like.

Here are the secrets behind our success, courtesy of Florian:

• 🎟️ Make it ticketed – Charging £5 meant fewer no-shows and more committed guests. It also raised the bar for the experience we delivered.

• 🤝 Build a real team – Nearly 20 members got involved, from planning to pizza. Big events need broad shoulders.

• 🎯 Set clear goals early – We locked the format and theme six weeks out. Everything flowed from that focused value: practical, high-impact public speaking tips.

• 📣 Market like you mean it – Eventbrite, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, video ads, posters, and personal invites. It all added up to a full house.

Want to help shape the next one? Elections are coming up…

6 Pathways Achievements

We’re celebrating the members who’ve hit major milestones in their Toastmasters journey this month. These achievements reflect consistent growth, commitment, and some fantastic speeches:

• Natalie Kay – Completed Innovative Planning Path

• Nonika Kotsali – Presentation Mastery Level 2

• Lucy Gray – Visionary Communication Level 2

• Charles Mingay – Dynamic Leadership Level 1

• Josh Puddle – Dynamic Leadership Level 1

• Sam Yates – Presentation Mastery Level 3

If you’re nearing a Pathways milestone, check your progress on Basecamp or speak to Krishna, who’s kindly keeping track.

We Did It: President’s Distinguished Club!

It’s official, London Victorians is now a President’s Distinguished Club for 2024, the highest accolade a Toastmasters club can earn.

We’ve achieved 9 out of 10 goals on the Distinguished Club Programme — a true reflection of the energy, commitment, and excellence our members bring week after week.

And we’re just one Level 2 completion away from a perfect 10/10 score. If you’re nearly there, this is your moment to help us finish on a high.

👏 A huge thank you to Krishna for meticulously tracking our Pathways progress, and to Natalie for her steady and inspiring leadership throughout the year.

Whether you’ve spoken, mentored, signed up, or cheered from the front row, this milestone is yours. Let’s keep the momentum going.

 Member Spotlight: Saloni

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Saloni, a member whose energy and creativity have brought a real spark to the club. Whether she’s delivering brilliantly imaginative speeches or stepping up as Toastmaster for the evening.

Reflecting on your journey, how has Toastmasters helped you in your personal and professional life?

Toastmasters has had a hugely positive impact on both my personal and professional life. It’s helped me build confidence in social situations and high-stakes meetings, where I used to feel nervous. It’s also improved my organisational skills whether it’s planning a Toastmasters meeting or managing events at work. Most importantly, it’s taught me that people are more supportive than we think, and that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to real growth and meaningful connections.

If you could deliver a speech to any audience in the world, who would it be and why?

I’d love to speak to children who struggle with confidence whether academically or socially. I’d want to show them that public speaking isn’t as scary as it seems, and that with the right support, anyone can find their voice. I’d love the speech to focus on how children can get involved with public speaking at a young age, as it’s one of the most powerful ways to build lasting self-confidence and learn to express themselves with clarity and courage. I honestly wish I had discovered this sooner as it would’ve made such a difference in my own journey.

What’s a public speaking tip or technique you swear by?

One technique I swear by is signposting clearly outlining what you’re going to talk about as you move through your speech. It keeps your audience engaged, helps you stay on track, and makes your transitions feel seamless.

15 New Members

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the London Victorians family! This month, we’re thrilled to introduce one of our largest intakes in the club’s history - 15 new members, we Say Hello to:

Enlightening Insights

Beyond the Club: The Moth GrandSLAM

Love storytelling? Don’t miss this:
🎟️ The Moth GrandSLAM – Southbank Centre

A real-life storytelling championship. Raw, powerful, and inspiring. If you’ve ever wanted to see what great storytelling looks like in action, this is your night.

Feedback Zone

Got ideas to elevate our club or jazz up our events and newsletter? Share your thoughts at londonvictorians@gmail.com and help shape our future!

Good afternoon, London Victorians! ☀️

These past couple of months have been a Himalayan Range of high points for our Victorians.

One of these glimmering peaks was the recent ‘Humorous Speech and Table Topic Competition’—six words that are enough to strike fear into any Toastmaster. But not to be outdone, 11 of our members rose to the occasion and proudly showcased what it means to be a Victorian.

Our club also turned 10 as members got together to celebrate at the Windsor Castle pub. (Belated birthday gifts can be sent to the Wellington Hotel).

📢 Club Update 📢

Sparks flew as our members clashed in a battle of wit during the recent Humorous and Table Topics Speech Contest.

The humorous speech contest showcased an impressive array of topics, demonstrating the incredible imagination of our contestants.

From the quirks of zip files, the pro’s and con’s of arranged marriages, to the timeless appeal of dad jokes, the art of navigating ‘late early middle life syndrome,’ and the emotional rollercoaster of preparing a speech had the audience in stitches.

With the crowd properly warmed up, next up came table topics and with an aviation themed question “A kite, a balloon, a plane - choose one and tell us”. Florian clinched this one, managing to creatively stich the 3 items together as he told us about the evolution of flight.

Please join us in congratulating our winners on an outstanding performance:

A big thanks also goes to our contest chair (master of ceremonies) Lucy Gray, chief judge Nat Hughes and the wider cast of Victorians who made sure the evening ran smoothly and to time.

🔦 Member Spotlight 🔦

This month, we spotlight Aneeta, our outgoing club president for 2023-2024. Here's what Aneeta had to say…

• How did you first hear about Toastmasters, and what motivated you to join?

  I heard about toastmasters from my parents who used to go. My main motivation was having certain thoughts and ideas during work meetings and not feeling confident enough to say them/ not knowing how to say them.

• What has been your most memorable experience or speech at Toastmasters so far?

  I love seeing how many people construct and deliver speeches in different creative ways. For example, for someone’s story telling speech they wanted to create an inviting atmosphere for it so he sat on a chair the whole speech and sipped on a can of beer as he was doing it- never really seen that before!

• Outside of Toastmasters, what are some of your hobbies or interests?

  Outside of Toastmasters, I love going to the gym because it really pushes me!

👥 New Members 👥

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the London Victorians family! This month, we’re thrilled to introduce:

• Raphael Agbanrin

• Manish Aggarwal

• Stathi Anthopoulos

🚀 What’s Next 🚀

• Basecamp Outage (9th to 25th October): Members completing a speech during this period should download any Pathways materials in advance, as they won't be accessible during the outage.

• Area Contest (23rd Oct, 18:30 at Palestra House, SE1 8NJ): Let's celebrate our contest winners and support them at the Area Contest! For the Humorous Speech Contest, Tom will be representing us, as George unfortunately won’t be renewing.

• Special Themed Meeting (22nd Oct): Join us as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Toastmasters with a special themed meeting! Don’t miss out on this milestone event.

🎓 Enlightening Insights 🎓

AI generated image of George Orwell

Writer of the dystopian novel by 1984, George Orwell, believed passionately in freedom of speech as a way to avoid ‘groupthink’ and wrote an article on how we can untangle our muddy thoughts to become clear and concise communicators.

Despite being written in 1946, his lessons still echo across time and should be read by every Toastmaster wanting to communicate more effectively. The TLDR version below:

📣Feedback Zone 📣

Got ideas to elevate our club or jazz up our events and newsletter? Share your thoughts at londonvictorians@gmail.com and help shape our future!

Good morning, London Victorians! ☀️

It’s been a scorcher this week, the Olympics are on, and we’re in full holiday mode. Finding it hard to say, “Sorry I can’t stay for one more drink; I must go to Toastmasters”? Me too…

But here’s a thought – what if we took our meetings outside this summer?

We’d save on room fees and echo the noble traditions of the Ancient Athenians, the original OGs of outdoor public speaking.

Ancient Greeks had several public spaces for speaking outdoors, including the agora, the Pnyx, and symposia

In the original form of table topics, Greek citizens, including potters, sculptors, and blacksmiths, would proudly challenge their leaders, calling out, “Why should we go to war with Sparta?” and “Why aren’t citizens given voting rights?”

Standing on a small but mighty platform in the shadows of the Acropolis, the orators would then battle to win the hearts and minds of the Greek populace, forever reshaping and remoulding our democratic values.

If that seems a bit radical, there are plenty more reasons to keep attending. Just check out what we got up to in June and July…

📢 Club Update 📢

Mohammad Qahtani “When to quit”

Just over a month ago, Mohammad Qahtani gave an inspiring talk on "When to Quit" to a crowd of 50 at London Victorians. He shared key insights:

• Embrace Nervousness: Even top speakers get nervous; it's part of the process.

• Authenticity Matters: Share what you truly believe in and focus on the audience's takeaway.

• Stay True to Your Mission: Don’t let the ego get in the way; stick to your true calling and remember why you started.

We look forward to Mohammad's third visit to Victorians!

🔦 Member Spotlight 🔦

This month, we spotlight Rory, someone who has thrown themselves into the community by taking on the VP of Events role. Here's what Rory had to say…

• How did you first hear about Toastmasters, and what motivated you to join?

  I was introduced to Toastmasters by a mate who also hadn’t been before but had been told great things about the club. We went along together for the first time and haven’t looked back since! I’m a big fan of self improvement but the thing that keeps me coming back is the incredibly positive and supportive atmosphere as well as seeing everyone else improve week on week.

• What has been your most memorable experience or speech at Toastmasters so far?

  There are a lot of moments that stick out when I think back but one that really comes to mind is one the members’ icebreaker. I remember first meeting them when they joined and the difference in their confidence and ability to express themselves in front of a group of people between then and now is amazing. I remember being blown away by their speech and I think this really summed up what Toastmasters is all about.

• Outside of Toastmasters, what are some of your hobbies or interests?

  Outside of Toastmasters my main hobbies are sports, mostly rugby, tennis and triathlon, learning languages and wine tasting!

👥 New Members 👥

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the London Victorians family! This month, we’re thrilled to introduce:

• Thomas Pilkington

• Krishna Govada

• David Thompson

🚀 What’s Next 🚀

Upcoming speech contest…

Mark September 17th in your diaries—London Victorians are hosting a Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest! It's the perfect chance to showcase your speaking skills in a friendly but competitive setting and represent the club at the area, division, and district levels.

Anyone can take part…remember to put your name down on EasySpeak and take a look at these guidelines to help you prepare for that contest winning speech.

September membership renewals…

Fellow members, we’re now in renewals season and all of you need to renew your membership for another 6 months from October until March 2025. We hope that you’ll continue to remain a part of our Club and continue to develop your skills.

Renewals for the next 6 months will be £210.

Further payments options include Credit/Debit Card, instalments via Klarna, Google Pay and more HERE!

🎓 Enlightening Insights 🎓

Need some inspiration for your next speech, why not consider going to a TEDx event?

TEDx events are held all around London and usually have 5-6 different speeches from leaders in their respective fields.

The next London based on is in Shoreditich and the theme is Be True To Who You Are on the 28th September.

Grab your tickets here.

📣 Feedback Zone 📣

Got ideas to elevate our club or jazz up our events and newsletter? Share your thoughts at londonvictorians@gmail.com and help shape our future!

Good morning, London Victorians! ☀️

Welcome to your monthly dose of personal growth, toastmaster camaraderie, and public speaking tips. Our new newsletter brings you inspiring speeches and invaluable communication tips from our club.

We know most newsletters collect dust, but if just one person clicks on this and finds something insightful or has a chuckle, then we’ve done our job.

…I see you hovering over that Junk email icon, don’t you dare or you’ll have Liam to answer to…

Now sit back, grab your morning cuppa and enjoy!

📢 Club Update 📢

It was election time: At the same time as the country goes to the polls, Victorians held their own election to vote in a new committee (sorry Rishi and Kier, but this lot are taken) and we are excited to announce the results…

• President: Natalie - Ready to lead us to new heights with her vision and passion.

• Vice President Education (VPE): Gabriel - Bringing innovative ideas to our educational programs.

• Vice President Membership (VPM): Nick - Committed to growing our vibrant community.

• Vice President Public Relations (VPPR) : Sam - Set to amplify our club’s voice and presence.

• Secretary: Kerry - Keeping us organized and on track with her meticulous attention to detail.

• Treasurer: Florian - Ensuring our finances are in tip-top shape.

• Sergeant at Arms: Lucy - Maintaining order and keeping our meetings running smoothly.

• Vice President Mentoring: Avi - Guiding members with wisdom and support.

• Vice President Events: Rory - Planning unforgettable events and experiences.

Congratulations to our new committee members!

🎤 Speaker Highlights 🎤

At our last meeting on the 28th May, we had not 1, not two, but 3 icebreaker speeches. I will give you another stat…how many of those speakers used notes? Not 1, not 2, not 3…if you haven’t already guessed - it was 0.

Charles, Weronika and Saloni knocked their icebreaker speeches out of the park.

Here is how it went down…

Charles began with an inspiring speech about Churchill and the history of leaders, questioning if they are born or made (spoiler: they are made).

Up next was Weronika and with a similar theme of learning from the perspective of others, Weronika gave a speech that taught us about the power of books to open our imagination.

Saloni shared lessons from her own dating app experiences, highlighting that while they can be disappointing, the right attitude can yield positive outcomes (special thanks to Saloni’s date for introducing her to Toastmasters!).

🔦 Member Spotlight 🔦

This month, we spotlight Florian Bay, founder of London Victorians in September 2014. His journey and achievements embody the club's spirit. Here's what Florian had to say…

• How did you first hear about Toastmasters, and what motivated you to join?

  I first heard about Toastmasters in a self-development book in 2007 but only joined in 2013 as there was no Club in Bath where I lived then.

• What has been your most memorable experience or speech at Toastmasters so far?

  Being District 91 Director for UK South in 2019-20, leading 180 Toastmasters Club and ~5,000 members. We had a blast, had to rise up to the immense challenge of pivoting to become an online organisation in 48h and we did it!

• What's one public speaking tip or trick that you swear by?

  1 min of speaking = 100 to 120 spoken words

👥 New Members 👥

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the London Victorians family! This month, we’re thrilled to introduce:

• Saloni Sardana

• Silvia Martin

• Ifeoma Igwe

• Olivia Amey

• Matt Hoggard

• Lottie Dodd

• Nonika Kotsali

• Artem Storozhuk

• Weronika Zgryska

🎓 Enlightening Insights 🎓

A wise person (likely Einstein) said the key to communication is hearing what isn't said. Stanford's "Make body language your superpower" video teaches effective body language use, reading audience cues, and handling audience boredom or disconnection.

P.S. If you are wondering why everyone looks so happy in the video…it is because it is from 2014.

🚀 What’s Next 🚀

Mohammed Quahtani: 2015 World Champion of public speaking

Stay tuned for an event you don’t want to miss….Mohammed Qahtani is coming to town. Who is Mohammed I hear you ask? After several eliminating rounds that took six months and 30,000 participants from 100 countries, Mohammed become victor of the hunger games 2015 World Champion of public speaking.

🎟️ Register Now: Sign-up here

📣 Feedback Zone 📣

Got ideas to elevate our club or jazz up our events and newsletter? Share your thoughts at londonvictorians@gmail.com and help shape our future!