ENGLAND—On April 12, nestled in the heart of Shakespeare country, the Edstone Spokesman Club hosted its end-of-year Ladies Gala with a theme of “The Legacy of Mr. Armstrong.” The weather was typically British, with showers interspersed between moments of glorious sunshine. Club Director Colin Hercus opened the meeting shortly before the delectable starters were brought to the tables.

Inside the stunning barn at Stratford Park Hotel and Golf Club, and surrounded by the beautiful Warwickshire landscape, 40 attendees listened to the opening remarks from Emmanuel Michels, who guided them through the theme of the afternoon. They were then led in a rousing vocal exercise section by David Francis, who warmed them up for the event with “round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran.” The spokesmen and guests then enjoyed a stimulating table topics session led by Dinesh Perera. Keeping within the theme of the Legacy of Mr. Armstrong, he asked such questions as what words from Mr. Armstrong impacted their life, as well as discussing how Mrs. Loma Armstrong had a positive impact on her husband. The assistant director Mr. Richard Palmer, gave the first half evaluation, commenting on how well organised this year’s Spokesman club was.

As the first half of the afternoon drew to a close, the barn was transformed into a parade of culinary artistry. The waitstaff entered the room with an array of fine main courses. The hotel didn’t just serve; they elevated the standard to a Shakespearean level. Each plate arrived as a vibrant masterpiece and was nothing short of exquisite. This was followed by a symphony of fine desserts that were almost too beautiful to eat.

After the desserts, the event moved into the speech section. The toastmaster for the afternoon was Curtis Powell, who introduced the men with energy and humour. The first speaker was Tyrhys Gardner, who inspired listeners to come back strong even after a setback like an injury. Jack Hercus gave a packed Get the Facts speech, where he spoke about the technological changes during Mr. Armstrong’s lifetime and how they helped the Work in some way. Albert Clarke spoke about how apparent defeat or failure can be turned into success, after which Harvey Powell urged them to start their own autobiography with the catchphrase “just write it down.” The final speech of the afternoon was from Neville Robinson, who admonished them to be willing, even when they thought they weren’t able.

The awards were given to Richard Howard (Most Helpful Evaluator), Jack Hercus (Most Improved Speaker) and Harvey Powell (Most Effective Speaker).

The final lecture of the club year was given by Mr. Hercus, who admonished them to study an aspect of Mr. Armstrong’s legacy. Between showers, attendees moved outside for a group photo to capture memories of what was truly a royal afternoon.