News and Events

Speechwriters in Bournemouth for conference

20 September 2012

Delegates from around the world at Bournemouth University for UK Speechwriters Guild conference.

Speechwriters from around the world are at Bournemouth University for the sixth UK Speechwriter’s Guild conference, which takes place today and tomorrow.

MP for Bournemouth East Tobias Ellwood will welcome the delegates and speakers and the conference will be chaired by Fred Metcalf - who was a speechwriter for John Major and former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

This year’s conference takes place at Bournemouth University’s Media School and has attracted delegates from Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago.

Speakers include Charles Cowling, editor of the Good Funeral Guide, who will run a session on how to write a eulogy, and BAFTA nominated film director, Tim Clague, who will explain how to put a speech on YouTube.

Piers Letcher, senior Speechwriter at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), will talk about his experiences writing for UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the world’s richest man Carlos Slim, and Nelson Mandela.

Bournemouth University Media School will also run a panel session revealing the latest research into political communication.

Speechwriter and organiser Brian Jenner said: “Since 2008 our conferences have attracted the leading lights in the speechwriting world. The craft can be solitary and anonymous, in fact, the job of speechwriting has been compared to robbing banks.

“It’s not done to tell everyone about your work. Only in our own company can we really share our achievements.”