The mere thought of standing up and speaking in front of an audience of any kind fills many people with dread whether it be at work, at a wedding or, heaven forbid, at a conference. This book is not about the experiences of professional speakers but a collection of stories - many humorous, some serious - written by ordinary people ranging from regional newspaper editors to church ministers, from teachers to Parliamentary candidates. David Scott has called upon his own contact with the great British public to reveal that speakers should always expect the unexpected. He offers guidance to those taking their first tentative steps into the world of public speaking and ends with a chapter of jokes which can be told on any occasion. It is a useful guide to what anyone might expect when leaving the comfort of their warm homes or offices for draughty village halls and sometimes unforgiving audiences.