Prestwich and Whitefield Probus Club

Cameras and camcorders were at the ready as the star of the photo-shoot, Cliff Berry, arrived. Cliff will shortly be celebrating his 90th birthday, and a superb creation of confectionery awaited him; one of Slattery's beautifully-decorated cakes, which had a cricketing theme.

Local folk will remember Cliff as a first team player at Prestwich, Unsworth and Radcliffe cricket clubs, not to mention his considerable involvement in service to the community and his church.

Fun was at the heart of the day for speaker Leslie Norris. For an hour, he recounted amusing incidents from his experiences of public speaking - from opening fetes and sales of work to talks at men's and ladies' groups.

On one occasion, a ladies' group chairman was reluctant to halt the animated chatter of the members, and enquired of Leslie: "Do you want to speak now or shall we let them go on enjoying themselves?" What a way to welcome a speaker!

Another chairman, on learning that no fee or expenses would be required, greeted this news with "Oh, we will be able to book a really good speaker next time"!

Even family members can heckle when you are doing your bit, be warned, and beware the mischievous club member who will set you up with the wrong information, just to land you in it.

With such long and varied experience, Leslie recalled lots of amusing situations, and gaffs can haunt even the most professional of speakers. A toastmaster was heard to urge his audience to "please pray for the silence of the next speaker".

All this was just the tonic we needed after learning of recent hospital stays for two of the club's principal officers.

Secretary Eric Hunt has had two spells of treatment for disturbed heart rhythms, and Brian Proctor, programme secretary, is in hospital in Majorca after suffering a stroke while on holiday. Another victim of a slight stroke is Joe Pearson.Good wishes to everyone were expressed by president Albert Molineux, on behalf of club members.

BERNARD HOWCROFT