1 Arrival & Entry to Dining Room
Arrive by 6.15 pm to have a pre-dinner chat prior to entry to dining room. Please remain standing to welcome guests.
2 Welcome
The Chairman introduces the guests.
3 Grace
Must be suitable and can be unusual, a few lines in length, appropriate and serious.
4 Dinner
Everyone sits down and is served a three course meal followed by coffee.
5 Loyal Toast
The Chairman introduces the Gabbler making the Loyal Toast. The Gabbler stands and says: “Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please stand for the loyal toast”. When everyone is standing, the Gabbler raises a glass and says: “The Queen”. The audience repeats “The Queen” and sits down again.
6 Coffee Time Story
It should be short, in good taste, told sitting down, and humorous (it may be a joke).
7 Speeches
ALL GABBLERS MUST ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS. However, only half the Gabblers speak after each dinner. A topic is either allocated or has been selected at the previous meeting. The speeches should take around FOUR MINUTES and begin with “Mister Chairman, Honoured Guests, Fellow Gabblers, Ladies and Gentlemen (insert topic”). At the end, the speaker asks the members of the audience to stand and toast the subject of the speech with “Mister Chairman, Honoured Guests, Fellow Gabblers, Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand and join me in a toast to (insert topic) …..” Advice and constructive comments from the floor follow after every two or three speeches.
8 Thought for the Evening
This is introduced by the Chairman and the Gabbler should deliver this standing up. It should only take about ONE TO TWO MINUTES, but must be prepared in advance. It may be humorous, but must be thought provoking.
9 Highlights of the Evening
This is introduced by the Chairman immediately following the last speech. It should be presented as a proper speech and should be based around a summary of FIVE highlights of the evening. Obviously, it can only be prepared as the evening goes along. Although some thought to the introduction might be given beforehand, it should concentrate on important or amusing comments made during the evening.
10 Conclusion
Finally, a guest speaker takes the floor and proceedings end around 10.15 – 10.30 pm.
DRESS:
Smart. Boys should wear jackets and ties. Jackets may only be removed with the permission of the Chairman. Girls should be appropriately and tastefully dressed.
NOTE:
This is after dinner speaking, not a dramatic performance, which should begin and end with the topic given, may be interpreted laterally, may be lightened with humour and should entertain, excite and engage the listeners.
