Hugh O'Neill

(Fellow & Founder Member)

In 1998, after a lengthy career in the military, I enrolled on a course for trainee Toastmasters run by Professional Toastmaster Services, on completion of which I qualified as a Toastmaster. In January 2000 I was invited by a group of toastmasters, operating in the Central Belt in Scotland (mainly in Glasgow and Edinburgh), to join with them and we founded Scottish Toastmasters. This was done with the aim of maintaining and enhancing the standards of Toastmastering in Scotland.

I offer a couple of added touches for weddings, should the bride and bridegroom wish to avail themselves of them. These are the provision of a sword for the cutting of the cake and also of a Quaich (a shallow, two handled, drinking vessel) with which either the bride or bridegroom, or both, can “share a dram” with the piper; these add somewhat to the ceremonial aspect of the occasion and are much appreciated. I also offer a speech writing service, which has proved popular

I have officiated at Banquets, Corporate Functions, Weddings, Dinners and events requiring a detailed knowledge of forms of address of both British and foreign nobility. I might add that the order of precedence and forms of address are no less complex for the Church′s hierarchy

I have been required, and am able, to make announcements in German and Russian, but do require notice of this.

Notable events, where I have been involved, were the wedding reception of Lady Georgina, the daughter of the Earl of Mansfield, at Scone Palace in October 1998.
Then on 28 May 2002 I, together with seven of my fellow Toastmasters, was in attendance at Holyrood Palace to present Her Majesty The Queen with a bouquet of “Jubilee Roses” on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee.
And in October 2005 I was asked to go to Kiev to officiate at the wedding of Sean Carr to Evghenia Timoshenko, the daughter of the Ukraine′s Prime Minister, Julia Timoshenko.
Closer to home, I toastmastered the Marquee Wedding Reception of Sir David Murray′s son, at his home in Scotland, where I met some of the most prominent figures in Scottish football

All my clients receive the same consideration and attention to detail. Your event is tailored to meet your individual requirements so that it will have its own unique and memorable character