Losing it...

I had been asked to give a speech at the Commonwealth Carol Service.   I had my speech, I had practised and timed it, I had sent the précis to the organisers, I had my best togs on, and I was due to get on the train at 5.30.  At 4.30pm I lost my voice.  I sounded like Tom Waites’ huskier elder brother.  I rang my PR lady who said “Stop talking for God’s sake!  Whisky.   And honey.  And throat spray.  And stop talking!”  Thankfully I was miked up, so my whispering tones were just about audible across the church.    In all my preparations for delivering the perfect speech, the one element I had not anticipated was not having a voice at all with which to deliver it.  Levi Roots, Mike Perham the round the world sailor and our own Barbara Soetan also made speeches which were very good, and very audible.  It was a very Christmassy, positive and heartwarming event.