My normal area for giving talks is Essex for the most part; sadly, I have declined several lately that have been south of the Dartford Crossing. Making that journey fairly frequently to visit family, I know just how bad the anti-clockwise traffic queues are.
When I was approached by Wye Arts Association in February 2018, I initially declined. At that time, I was still giving talks for and about “The Chelmsford Ballet Company” to get “bums on seats” and felt it was unlikely that there would any ticket buyers from so far afield.
However, the speaker secretary was very disappointed as she had been specifically searching for a speaker on Ballet and was very keen to book me, offering overnight accommodation at her home, which has a self-contained annexe.
So, I thought why not; a very reasonable fee would be paid to The Chelmsford Ballet Company.
Then of course, everything changed. My health suffered badly and, unfortunately, I had to cancel many talks from September through to the end of 2018. But because I loved going to meet these wonderful groups of people all over the county, I decided to carry on and to donate my fee to the MS Society instead.
I contacted the people who had already booked a talk for 2019 and explained the change of focus of my talks and all were enthusiastic; especially the Wye Arts Association.
So, I developed “A View from the Stalls” expressly for them. An erudite, knowledgeable society that wanted a general talk on Ballet.
I enjoyed the research so much that it was difficult to cull the amount of information that I had gathered to make the talk a reasonable length.
So last Monday, 20th May, was “opening night” – a premiere for my talk. Apart from a dreadful journey down, the whole experience was wonderful. My hosts were a very charming couple who welcomed me and my husband into their home. Wye is a beautiful, mostly hilly, little village that nestles in the North Downs of Kent; it is within a conservation area 12 miles from Canterbury.
Wye Arts Association Members 
Wye College – now residential? 
Quaint Kent
I was told that there is a lively mix of former academics and a growing younger population. I certainly had a very warm welcome from those members who came along to the meeting and praise for my talk afterwards.
It will have to be tweaked; possibly slightly too long and needs lightening for more general audiences.
All in all though I was very pleased with how it went. I’m also grateful to the Speakers in Essex Facebook page members who advised me on giving a new talk. I have several bookings now for this one.