Speaking

Steve Roberts

Freelance writer, published author, public speaker, private tutor

PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOW OFFERING TALKS USING ZOOM.

Public Speaking

I am an accomplished public speaker, having honed my craft firstly as a teacher and then in my capacity as an IT Project Manager. I'm sure that anyone who witnessed my presentations at the monthly team meetings at 'The Office' would vouch for the fact that my talks are going to be lively and fun!

I will talk on a variety of subjects, both local and further afield. Please see my list of Published Articles (under 'Writing') to get a feel for the kind of subjects I offer. My writing enables me to research any number of subjects, which can be turned into talks.

I provide my own equipment (laptop, projector etc) and any talk I give will be illustrated with photographs of whatever it is I am describing.

My fees are reasonable and negotiable, with expenses only having to be charged on top of this if I am required to travel longer distances. My fee, including any expenses would be agreed up front, so there are no hidden extras for you.

Oh and by the way the picture here tells a story. This is a plaque telling us that the war poet Rupert Brooke once lived in Bournemouth. The plaques of Bournemouth could be that elusive talk you're looking for!

There are lots of local talks such as this that I can do: Christchurch blue plaques, Hengistbury Head, the New Forest National Park, 150 years of Christchurch Station, the long lost Hurn Branch, Bournemouth Plaques, Jack the Ripper in Dorset. You have lots to choose from!

About to go on parade at the East Dorset Heritage Trust, Allendale House, Wimborne (10th August 2017)

NEW TALK

Lesser Known Bournemouth:

... will run alongside my second book (of the same name), which is now at the proof reading stage and due to be published later this year by Roving Press.

The talk will be a fast-paced hour's journey through Bournemouth's past and present, teasing out some of those lesser-known stories, as well as more familiar tales. I'll cover History, the Rivers & Seafront, Nature Areas & Gardens, the Arts, Folklore & Strange Happenings, Family Fun & Other Activities, Sport & Leisure, Regular Events, Interesting Buildings & Businesses, descriptions of the book's 7 walks, the Outlying areas, and a summary of the book's 20 interviews.

Does Bournemouth really have no history?

Why is there only one street in Bournemouth?

What was Bournemouth's most famous haunting?

Who was the town's most notorious murderer?

Who was the Queen's eccentric ancestor?

What did the Beatles get up to in Bournemouth?

The Duffer's Guide to History:

It's been my personal view for a while that History has not been taught that well in this country. This is my go at setting the record straight - a duffer's guide. In 60 minutes we'll have a whistle-stop tour of British (and a bit of World) History, from the Stone Age to the Cold War. It's going to be a bit '1066 And All That', so will be full of humour (such as the weirdest Viking names I've managed to uncover) but will also have all the key moments in our history, in chronological order, so that people can see where we're going. Lots of questions will be posed (and hopefully answered) along the way. Was there really a King Arthur? Why was Alfred 'The Great' and did he really burn the cakes? Why was Edward I called 'Longshanks' and did his son Edward II really fall foul of a red-hot poker? I'll also be slipping in snippets of local history as we go. It should be quite a journey.

Dad's Army Fact & Fiction:

An affectionate look at both the Home Guard and its portrayal in the popular TV series Dad's Army.

I look at the real Home Guard, why it was formed and what it did, with some popular myths dispelled in the process. I also look at the TV series, the characters, the actors who played them, the catchphrases, film locations, best episodes and so forth. Although the TV series was a sitcom, it is worth recording that the real Home Guard lost over 1,600 members, killed on duty, during its lifetime, with two of its number posthumously receiving the George Cross, this nation's highest gallantry award for those not facing the enemy. The talk attempts to be lively and fun, but also attempts to set the record straight.

TALKS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

The Ringwood to Christchurch Railway (The Long Lost Hurn Branch)

150 years of Christchurch Station

Hengistbury Head

New Forest National Park

The History of the British Sandwich

150 years of the London Underground

Bournemouth Blue Plaques

Lesser Known Bournemouth (NEW)

Southampton

Lesser Known Christchurch

Christchurch Blue Plaques

Jack the Ripper in Dorset

Mr Selfridge, Fact and Fiction

The Plaques of Poole

Magna Carta, the Battle of Evesham and After

Dad's Army Fact & Fiction

The Duffer's Guide to History (NEW)

Vigo (Spain) and Pilgrimages

Funchal (Madeira) and its famous visitors

Lanzarote in the movies

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Tenerife

Bilbao, Biscay and the Shipping Forecast