Annandale Speakers November Meeting

Nov 20 2009 by Sharon Liptrott, Dumfries Standard Friday

THERE was an excellent attendance for Annandale Speakers fourth meeting of the season held in the Queens Hotel, Lockerbie.

President, Bruce Edinsor welcomed everyone and introduced Clive Thorley from Moffat who was attending his first meeting. Mr Speaker Joe Glass put the speakers at their ease with his short yet appropriate introductions.

First to the rostrum was Clifford Corton on the subject of “Bright Spark”. This was a most interesting speech about the life story of Alan Turing who, while working at Bletchley Park during the war, broke the Enigma code, saving many lives in the process.

Unfortunately for Alan Turing there was no happy ending to his story.

On a lighter note Sandy Scott was in a bit of a “Hot Spot” when he shared some amusing anecdotes with the company.

“Tender Spot” featured Ian Jamieson who listed the various types. Robin Day and David Frost, both highly skilled interviewers, certainly “hit the spot” in their interviews with John Knott and Richard Nixon.

Ian then provided an insight into the complexity of becoming a driving test examiner and recounted some amusing moments from his twenty one years in post.

Donald Martin presided over an interesting topics session.

Kerr Little was asked about TV cooking programmes.

He explained that his reasoning was all about seasoning. Jack Forrest was not sure whether a person should represent a country not of their birth.

Ian Sloan , when asked whether we should always take the experts advice, replied that it was all down to common sense. The controversy about cannabis being less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol was rebutted by Laurie Howell who felt that drugs caused more harm.

Frank Farrell when asked for his opinion on all male clubs gave a very diplomatic answer.

The second half got off to a good start with Ian Hale and “Explicit”. Ian gave a very amusing account of a train journey from Darlington to Birmingham at the time of the winter of discontent. Ian proceeded to comment on MPs’ expenses and rounded off with a most appropriate poem.

Martin Wilkinson was next with his “Complicit” in which he told the life story of Bonnie and Clyde. Members were interested to hear that Bonnie was also a creative writer. Martin ended his speech with an example of one of her poems.

Another highlight of the evening was provided by Andrew Armstrong with the topic “Implicit”.

Andrew compared and contrasted the various theories of evolution and the parts played by geologists James Hutton (a Scot from Berwickshire), Jean de Charpentier and Louis Agassiz.

This was a well researched and highly informative speech.

Finally Brian Lord spoke on “Bright Spark”. This was a thought provoking speech in which Brian gave an insight into the various types of mental illness faced by both young and old when they are under pressure and posed the question. “How can we help?

Critic Michael Dickie found little to criticise and much to praise. The whole evening had gone with a bang!