Profile of Ivor Spencer

Ivor Spencer is acknowledged to be Britain's leading and highest paid and most travelled professional Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies. The Rt. Worshipful The Lord Mayor of The City of Westminster has said he is the doyen of professional Toastmasters.

He is Life President and Founder of The Guild of International Professional Toastmasters, one of H.M. Deputy Lieutenants for and in the county of Greater London, and is the first Toastmaster to have achieved the honour of officiating at well over 1,000 Royal events, and this was mentioned in the House of Commons on the 3^rd February 1992.

He is an author, after-dinner speaker, lecturer and broadcaster in television and radio, and runs the famous Ivor Spencer International School for Butler Administrator/Personal Assistants in the U.K. and U.S.A. and the Ivor Spencer School for professional Toastmasters.

He has been a professional Toastmaster for 40 years, and is often called upon to organise very special events. His client list reads like the Times Top Thousand Companies, many are international names including Harrods and Marks & Spencer, and including many leading newspapers. "I, Ivor Spencer, am very proud to have created "The Best After-Dinner Speaker of the Year" Award in 1967. The Award now known as, "The Ivor Spencer Best After-Dinner Speaker of the Year" Award will continue sponsored by The Guild of International Professional Toastmasters of which I am the Founder and Life President. Recipients of the Award have been former Prime Minister of Great Britain Baroness Thatcher, Bob Monkhouse, Lord Tonypandy, Jimmy Tarbuck, Sir Peter Ustinov and many other eminent speakers."

The Ivor Spencer School for Butlers has been established 20 years, and the Ivor Spencer School for Professional Toastmasters for 30 years.

CITATION: The Executive Officers and Fellows of the Guild of International Professional Toastmasters award to Ivor Spencer, The Guild of International Professional Toastmasters Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, the first Toastmaster to receive this Award for services to the Toastmaster profession, for being the first and only Toastmaster to have officiated at well over 1,000 Royal events, and in recognition of Ivor Spencer's relentless efforts and superb contribution to the Toastmaster profession for over forty years.

TOASTMASTER OF THE YEAR 2000: This award was presented to Ivor Spencer by the Guild of International Professional Toastmasters.

The above two awards were presented by the former Prime Minister of Great Britain The Right Honourable Baroness Thatcher.

The Ivor Spencer Best After Dinner Speaker of the Year Award 1999 - 2000

T.V. Star Bob Monkhouse will be awarded the 'Ivor Spencer Best After Dinner Speaker of the Year Award', this will be the third time that Ivor Spencer has presented his award to Mr. Monkhouse which Ivor Spencer created in 1967.

This Toastmaster has presented this award in the past to Baroness Thatcher, Lord Tonypandy, Sir Peter Ustinov, and other eminent speakers.

Ivor Spencer has listened to over 45,000 speeches in his 44 years as a professional Toastmaster listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Some of the important events attended by
Ivor Spencer in his official capacity

Fiftieth NATO Anniversary Banquet in Guildhall London.

Since 1975 Ivor Spencer has had the pleasure and privilege of presenting to H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the largest bottle of Champagne in the world (a Nebuchadnezzar which equals twenty bottles) on her birthday.

A Banquet and Evening at the Opera, at Chequers, the Prime Minister's residence , attended by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, The Prime Minister and Mrs. Norma Major.

The opening of Terminal 1 Heathrow London by H.M. The Queen.

The opening of Terminal 4 at Heathrow by H.R.H. Prince Charles and H.R.H The Princess of Wales.

The opening of the new North terminal at London Gatwick by H.M. The Queen and H.R.H Prince Philip.

A luncheon hosted by the Variety Club of Great Britain to honour the Rt. Hon. The Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

The Cutlers Feast hosted by the Master Cutler at the Cutlers Hall Sheffield.

The Evening Standard Drama Awards at the Savoy Hotel (since the inception).

The opening of The Queen Elizabeth 2 Bridge, by H.M. The Queen.

The Roll-Out of the Jetstream 41 for British Aerospace, in the presence of H.M. The Queen and H.R.H. Prince Philip.

State Banquets attended by H.M. The Queen, and members of the Royal Family.

The opening of Stanstead Airport by H.M. The Queen and H.R.H Prince Philip.

A Banquet at the Palace of Versailles attended by his Excellency the President of France.

The 21^st and 25^th birthday parties of the famous Mandarin Hotel, Hong Kong.

The opening of the new Food Halls at Harrods by The Princess Royal.

The Treasure Houses of Britain Exhibition at Washington D.C., U.S.A. by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales.

A Banquet in the Thames Tunnel London on the Occasion of the refurbishment of the Tunnel, originally built by Brunel who hosted a Banquet in the same Tunnel to celebrate the opening in 1847.

A Banquet at the Palace de Versailles attended by the Diplomatic Corp. of many nations.

A Banquet in Brussels to honour the astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world.

Two centenary Banquets for British Steel's Orb and Shotton Steel Making Works.

A Banquet to honour the holders of the Victoria Cross at the Savoy Hotel, attended by H.R.H. The Duke of York.

The Festival of London Christmas Trees Banquet at The Natural History Museum in aid of Save the Children, attended by H.R.H. The Princess Royal.

The Centenary Banquet of Hovis at Guildhall, London.

The 800th Anniversary of the Mayoralty at Guildhall, London.

The launch of The Times Newspaper, Business News Section, at The Savoy Hotel.

The wedding reception of The Prime Minister of England's son, Mark Thatcher, (completely organised by myself)

The Centenary Banquet and Ball for Marks & Spencer at Grosvenor House.

The opening of the Hotel Conrad, Hong Kong.

The opening of the famous St. Regis Hotel in New York.

The opening of the new V.I.P suites at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.

The 70^th Anniversary of The "Not Forgotten" Association at Buckingham Palace.

A Banquet in honour of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher , L.G. O.M. P.C F.R.S.

The Inauguration of the extension to the Jubilee Line by H.R.H. The Princess Anne.

A private Dinner attended by Ambassadors and other V.I.P's to celebrate the Centenary of the famous Savoy Hotel in London.

Officiating as Toastmaster for a private party on Concorde flying to the U.S.A.

Officiating as Toastmaster for the 50^th Anniversary of Tesco at Claridges, attended by The Princess Royal, in aid of Save the Children Fund.

Attended as Guest of Honour at a Luncheon given by The Guild of International Professional Toastmasters at The Regent Hotel, London, to celebrate my officiating at over 1,000 Royal events.

Have published a book on Speeches and Toasts, and on an Audio Tape.

H.M. The Queen of Norway's presentation of the 50th Anniversary Christmas Tree to the people of London in Trafalgar Square.

The Wedding reception of Earl Spencer at Althorpe attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry.

The Regent Street Christmas Lights switched on by members of the Royal Family and top celebrities. I have attended this event for many years.

The Bond Street Christmas Lights switched on by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales.

The Authors of the Year parties hosted by Hatchards, the Royal booksellers.

The Centenary of the London Press Club Banquet attended by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

Charity Banquets and Balls at Chequers, the Prime Minister's residence.

The Centenary Banquet of The London Welsh Rugby Football Club attended by their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales.

Ivor Spencer is proud to have had the privilege of introducing every member of the Royal Family on private and public occasions.

Delighted to be the first Toastmaster to be officiate at the first Royal Banquet to be held at the Millennium Dome, the Guest of Honour HRH The Princess Royal.

Officiated at the Silver Jubilee Banquet for the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association at the Savoy Hotel, the Guest of Honour HRH The Duke of York.

Hosted and organised the first reception at Claridge's, one of the finest hotels in the world, on the first day of the millennium. The reception was specially held to Toast Her Majesty The Queen.

Engaged as Master of Ceremonies for the re-opening of Le Saint Geran Hotel, Golf & Spa, in Mauritius (one of the finest resort hotels in the world) opened by The Hon. The Prime Minister of Mauritius)

Very pleased to be the first Toastmaster to broadcast from the Millennium Dome on the 1st January 2000, on Sky Digital.

Delighted to officiate at the wedding reception of Anthea Turner and Grant Bovey.

A Toast to Her Majesty the Queen