Patricia Gray - Toastmaster

Guest speaker this week was Patricia Gray, Director of Toastmasters UK, Division S. Patricia explained her journey volunteering since joining Dunfermline Toastmasters in 2017. While a mature student studying with the Open University she was the voice of all the Scottish students at meetings in Scotland and in the UK, however she felt that she did not have a lot of confidence with public speaking. Patricia decided that attending Toastmasters would help her when called upon to present her case.

She confessed to be feeling terrified as she walked into the room for the first time, however by the end of that meeting she had enjoyed it so much she decided that she wanted to join the Club. Patricia delivered her first speech after just six weeks, and received really good constructive feedback, that enabled her to learn and improve for delivering future speeches.

Toastmasters meet fortnightly on Thursdays in the library at Dunfermline High School. At each meeting two or three members make speeches of four to six minutes in length on subjects of their own choice. Speeches are evaluated counting things like the ah’s and um’s. Patricia claimed that this makes you aware of your own content and gets you thinking about your own language.

Since joining Toastmasters Patricia has gained a lot of self-confidence in public speaking. Now seven years on she can confidently speak to larger audiences even without notes and she has gained a lot of new skills. Her greatest achievement so far was when she had the opportunity to be the host at a remembrance event for the Roy Castle Lung Foundation in Glasgow. 

She has held many of the  leadership roles in the Dunfermline Toastmasters club and currently with the District as well as Area Director of Division S in charge of 19 clubs in Scotland. The skills developed with Toastmasters have enabled her to volunteer with others organisations.

Patricia is a walk leader with Bums Off Seats guiding them Wednesday morning walk for 40 minutes in the Glen. She trained to be a leader at Lochore Meadows and regularly leads groups that can be in excess of 20 in number.  Similar walks take place in Townhill, Glenrothes and Dalgety Bay or and above the fitness benefits, friendship is a key gain.

All Patricia’s volunteering is linked to her former career in care work. She enjoys all the different roles and challenges and that also includes with the Royal Voluntary Service based in Jean Mackie Centre. Activities there include card making, competitions, nursery kids visits, pet visits until the service users get picked up again at 2.00pm.

With no ah’s and um’s Alan Farquharson delivered the club’s vote of thanks.