John Ashmele Toastmaster

Home
John Ashmele Toastmaster

John Ashmele Toastmaster My main aim as Master of Ceremonies at your event is to take the agreed plan and make it work on the day, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and on time.

16/01/2025

Planning a Burns Night dinner next weekend? If you would like the event to run smoothly and on time, have you considered the services of a professional Master of Ceremonies?
As well as my usual duties at formal dinners, I can offer the Selkirk Grace and the Address to the Haggis. I can also deliver a learned paper entitled ‘Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati’ (which translates literally as ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race), describing the life cycle of the wild haggis that inhabits the highlands of Scotland.
Please contact me if you wish to discuss your plans and what I can do for you.
Regards, John Ashmele Toastmaster
www.ashmele.co.uk/dinners

25/12/2024

Whatever you are celebrating, however you are celebrating, and with whoever you are celebrating - enjoy!

20/12/2024

Winter Solstice 2024…
…and it hasn’t just been weddings this past year. For example, earlier this year I was pleased to serve as one of the MCs for the Pungudutivu Welfare Association fund-raising event, then honoured to introduce HRH The Duke of Gloucester at the Gilbert and Sullivan Society dinner, and delighted to act as Toastmaster at the Moor Park Tennis Club dinner dance. Having said that, my wedding engagement calendar for next year is filling up, so looking forward to a busy 2025.
I was also thrilled to be short-listed as a finalist for the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Wedding Awards, but sadly not a winner this year. My village in Northwood (Eastbury, actually) switched on its Christmas tree lights, and I was delighted to step up as Master of Ceremonies with my handbell and announce the volunteer band and the school choir before encouraging the children to count down for the switch-on; such fun.
I cover weddings of most cultures (including Jewish, Asian and Mediterranean), other family celebrations (including wedding anniversaries, renewal of wedding vows, significant birthdays, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah), and formal dinners (including Masonic Ladies Festivals, charity and fundraising receptions, civic and corporate functions, and – may it please your Majesty – royal engagements).

23/11/2024

Delighted to be invited back by the National Association of Wedding Professionals (NAWP) to act as Master of Ceremonies at their winter networking event. The venue this time was the luxury yacht Sunborn London, moored in Royal Victoria Docks with a stunning nighttime view downstream towards the City of London. We were welcomed on board by Cyrina Prospere, the Events Assistant Manager, and crew with drinks and canapés, and by Siobhan Craven-Robbins, Director of NAWP. I then had the pleasure of introducing the guest speaker and Director of The Power of Events, Simon Hughes. The Power of Events aims to showcase, value and respect the UK Events Industry through a myriad of different projects and programmes. After a tour of the yacht, which is fully licensed for weddings, the professionals were free to mingle and network. Thanks to Noel Yeo of Nudge Photography for the images.

01/11/2024

A Long Story Short: When You Want Everything To Be Just Right, Who Are You Going To Call?
After all those months of planning and preparation, this is when you want everything to be just right, so that you can relax with your family and friends and let me soak up most of the stress. As a Toastmaster I know how important your wedding day is, and I want to help you create one of the most memorable days of your life. Rest assured; I will always work with your best interests in mind. If you would like further information about the services I offer, visit www.ashmele.co.uk/weddings.

20/10/2024

A great pleasure and an honour to be invited by Annick Devillard as MC/Toastmaster at the Moor Park Tennis Club Dinner Dance in the grand surroundings of Moor Park Mansion. After the champagne reception (with Steve Cox on piano) and calling the guests to tables, I was pleased to introduce the Chair of Tennis, Ms Marianne Montgomery, who delivered the welcome speech. I was then honoured to introduce special guest Mr Dan Bloxham, Head Coach of the All-England Lawn Tennis Club. After dinner, the guests returned to the Main Hall for the raffle draw, and the evening continued into the small hours with dancing to the band Krazy Keys – the joint was jumping!

18/05/2024

Do you manage a community or social group, or a business networking group? I am a professional Toastmaster / Master of Ceremonies and would be delighted to deliver a talk entitled ‘The History and Role of Toastmasters’ to members of your organisation. Dressed in my hunting pink livery I will speak about the history and the guilds, and the training required for me to become a Fellow of the Guild of Professional Toastmasters. I will describe the different types of functions covered including weddings, civic and corporate functions, peppering my talk with ‘tips of the trade’ and amusing anecdotes. Please contact me and I'm sure we can find a date.

26/04/2024

I recently asked a wedding professional about her wedding, and she said: "Looking back on my wedding day there were many moments when I wish I had someone who could have taken the burden of checking everything was going to run smoothly. I had expected others to assist that didn't and so the services that a Toastmaster offers would have been perfect. All the little things (or even big!) that need taking care of fall to you, the Bride. A Toastmaster could have made sure the thank you presents were in the right place, sorted out the meal for the unexpected guest, someone to say "It’s ok, I'll take care of it" so you can relax and enjoy the day. It's priceless."
(Styled image by Amy Murphy Photography with Kelly Hawes Celebrant at The Barn at Alswick)

20/03/2024

Spring Equinox 2024…
…and following the traditional engagement season of Christmas to Valentine’s Day I have received several promising enquiries for an MC/Toastmaster. We are well into the wedding fair season, and I have enjoyed meeting many delightful couples in lovely wedding venues in London and the Home Counties.
Burns Night supper at Halsey Hall Masonic Centre in Waltham Abbey, and I was asked to deliver the Selkirk grace and address to the haggis. I replied, “Only if I can take a wee dram with Piper Donald McGrurie”. Later in the evening I delivered a learned paper ‘Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati (which translates literally as ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race), describing the life cycle of the wild haggis that inhabits the highlands of Scotland.
Once again delighted to be invited to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the National Association of Wedding Professionals spring networking event at Home House, a private members’ club in Portman Square in London. Delighted also to introduce NAWP director and guest speaker Tracy Butterfield of Saltaire Bridal, who spoke on neurodiversity awareness in the wedding industry. Many wedding suppliers attended the event and helped to make for an enjoyable evening, and a special mention for Photographer Pascal Gastaud, Sky Magic and Badge Master Mick.

01/01/2024

Winter Solstice 2023 … and another year draws to a close. The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA) offers regional and national awards, is client-voted, judged by over 130 industry experts, and coveted by businesses and couples alike. Having been nominated by my couples, I was ‘well chuffed’ to have been short listed as a South-East regional finalist in the Special Touch category.

I had the pleasure of contributing to the Toastmaster & Master of Ceremonies segment of the Certificate in Wedding Planning course at the Event School London with Siobhan Craven-Robins. With the aid of images from real-life weddings I explained the role of the Toastmaster to the students and how to ensure that the event, be it a wedding, celebration or formal dinner, can run smoothly and on time.

Another enjoyable evening was spent at the Guild of Professional Toastmasters’ annual dinner at the Union Jack Club in London with our friends, Jane and Nick, and fellow ‘toasties’. Great speeches, entertainment by a young talented pianist, Cole Lam, and £700 raised through the raffle for the Chairman’s taxi charities

21/11/2023

Another enjoyable evening at the Guild of Professional Toastmaster's annual dinner at the Union Jack Club in London with our friends, Jane and Nick, and fellow 'toasties'. Great speeches, entertainment by a young talented pianist, Cole Lam, and £700 raised through the raffle for the Chairman's taxi charities.

27/09/2023

I was recently invited by ITW Playworx , a media and entertainment company, to serve as Toastmaster for the World Book of Records International Excellence Awards Ceremony at the Palace of Westminster in the presence of members of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, His Holiness Shri Rajrajeshwar Guriji and other distinguished guests.
My duties included interviewing the recipients of the awards, particularly challenging as most responses were in Hindi (for the benefit of the video) as were the speeches and most of the proceedings throughout the evening. It was probably significant that the event was held on Hindi Diwas, the day that marks the commemoration of the occasion when Hindi was adopted as one of India’s official languages.
My thanks to Aaqib Edavan Kattil and Ankur Sharma of ITW Playworx, and my co-hostess Khush Saikia for her valuable advice.

20/07/2023

A testimonial from my Couple is always welcome, more so when it's hand-written. Thank you, Louise and Alex.

15/06/2023

Eversholt Hall near Milton Keynes: such a quintessential English village hall setting, overlooking the village green and cricket pitch that you could almost hear a poem by Sir John Betjeman. I was there in late May as Toastmaster for the wedding of Mike and Caroline, and as the sun set later that evening, I left the newlyweds to enjoy their first dance as husband and wife to Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere”.

10/06/2023

Delighted to announce a collaboration with Graham Le-Gall, the Wedding Speech Coach and creator of The Peas of Public Speaking®. Speeches are an integral part of the success of your special day, and with a little bit of assistance from someone who knows how to prepare for and deliver a memorable wedding speech, you will be able to deal with everything with great confidence.

As your Toastmaster / Master of Ceremonies I will consult with you on every aspect of your function, advising on procedure, timing and protocol. I will take your agreed plan and make it work on the day; I will ensure that everything runs smoothly and on time, and that announcements and introductions are made using the appropriate etiquette. When you confirm your booking, I will send you a copy of ‘How To Make A Confident And Memorable Wedding Speech’ by Graham Le-Gall, with our compliments.

17/02/2023

Congratulations to all the Couples who became engaged over Christmas, New Year and on St Valentine’s Day.
My main aim as Master of Ceremonies at your wedding is to take the agreed plan and make it work on the day, so that everything runs smoothly and on time and all the announcements are made using the correct etiquette. After all those months of planning and preparation, this is when you want everything to be just right, so that you can relax with your family and friends and let me relieve you of most of the stress.
I can offer expert planning advice on procedure, timing and etiquette, and agree an outline plan of your event as you want it to be, because I'd love to be the difference that will make your guests talk about your wedding long after you've said: "I Do!".
It is very tempting to cut costs and ask a member of your family or a friend to act as your Toastmaster, but it really does pay to have an experienced Master of Ceremonies to guide you through the pitfalls rather than ‘winging it’ on the day.
Contact me with the ‘when & where’ of your wedding for a free, no-obligation chat so that I can fully understand your requirements. Confirm your booking by the Spring Equinox (20th March), and I will send you a pair of tickets for the National Wedding Show in April with my compliments.
Photograph by

Address

Telephone

+447710400412

Website

http://www.ashmele.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when John Ashmele Toastmaster posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to John Ashmele Toastmaster:

Videos

There are many stories about the origins of the wedding cake, and most of them are about as believable as the one I’m about to tell you… ...and if you want to hear the rest of the story, contact me.

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Alerts
Contact The Business
Videos
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your business to be the top-listed Event Planning Service?

Country:

City: