5. 5
•Unlike everyone else who is either
an engineer or a solicitor, I’m a
teacher and I also happen to be
deaf – I’ll start this in the same way
I do when I first meet a new class.
Louder, Quieter Practice
•I won’t be able to hear if you laugh
at my lame jokes – use some visual
clues to help things move along.
5
8. 8
•I’d like to start with a few words of
thanks. On behalf of the
bridesmaids and myself, I’d like to
thank Dan and Debs for asking us to
be involved in their special day. I
know they’ve both put a huge
amount of effort in to the planning
this wedding, and I can only hope
that, apart from this
speech, everything else will be
perfect for them.
8
10. 10
•I must agree with Dan what a great
job the Bridesmaids did – you all
look fabulous.
•I would also like to thank the Ushers
for top quality ushing – Being an
usher is a hard job, not to be
underestimated. Telling people
roughly where to sit in a church or
venue is a real challenge.
10
11. 11
•Nobody ever seems to pay
the Groom a compliment – I
think you’ll all agree Dan is
looking very dapper –
although I think the lilac suit
would have perhaps been
more striking.
11
21. 21
•When Dan told me he was
marrying Debs and asked me
to be here today, naturally I
said I’d be delighted. I’m
honoured to be asked and
involved on this special day.
21
23. 23
•I’ve met lots of Dan’s friends over
the years, many of them are here
today.
•I got to know most of you on Dan’s
stag do, in Wales. I’d also like to
thank them for carrying me up and
down a mountain - well I say a
MOUNTAIN, it was more a hill really.
So I know how lucky he is to have
such a great bunch of friends.
•However,… I CLEARLY am the… 23
27. 27
•Dan grew up just down the road
from me right over on the other
side of the country – near France.
•As you know, Dan loves to travel
and has been all over the world.
•One of his earliest travels was a
family holiday to Spain when he was
about three 27
29. 29
• After a day spent happily playing on the beach.
Dave and Sheila started to pack up and realised
they couldn’t find Dan’s shoes anywhere.
• Sheila asks, ‘Dan where are your shoes?’
• ‘In the SAANNDD’
• It took a lot of detective work and a number of
flights to Spain but…we’ve found your shoes.
29
31. 31
• Dan loves climbing, a bug he picked up at a very
early age. Dan’s parents’ house is in a road called
Conifer Drive – and that’s just what it is – a drive
through some very tall conifers. Much to his mum’s
dismay, Dan used to love climbing in the masses of
giant conifers in the garden.
• He would call out ‘muum’, ‘muum’, but she’d have
no idea which tree he was in.
• ‘I’ve got no idea where you are but come down
right now.’
31
33. 33
•I get the impression that Dave was a bit
of a hippie to be honest.
•He’s got a number of 60’s looking
‘ladies’ around the house and a really
great record collection. I think this all
rubbed off on Dan who became a long-
haired guitarist in his teens. Dan and his
mates started playing in Trashcan.
•They used to practice in our lounge or
bedroom on a Sunday, with strict
instructions to keep the windows closed
so as not to annoy the neighbours!
33
34. 34
•It was around this time that I first
got to know Dan. I’ll always
remember the first time I went to
his house.
•They’ve got this great sunken
lounge, a big open fire – and huge
patio doors – it’s like something out
of a James Bond film.
34
41. 41
•Dan went off to Bath University
to become an engineer before
finally settling in Bristol. I still
saw Dan but mainly during the
holidays or at Christmas, so I’m
going to ask Dom and James to
tell us something about Dan’s
West Country years.
41
45. 45
•Dan left university and went to
work for Renishaw. I’m not an
engineer, unlike pretty much
everyone else here, so excuse me if
I explain this in layman’s terms.
When he wasn’t sleeping in a toilet
cubicle he helped make some kind
of pokey thing with pink bits at the
end. 45
53. 53
•I don’t know who won that
day but I think you’ll all agree
that Dan scored as well.
•They hit it straight off and
discovered they had so much
in common.
53
67. 67
•Jokes aside, Debs you have brought
a joy and light into my friend’s life.
I’m so happy that you have found
each other and I know that you will
have a long and great future
together.
•So can I ask that you all join me in
raising your glasses to…THE BRIDE
AND GROOM
67
