Speech? I am no good at speeches.

[melodysparks]

I have been volunteered, to write and read a speech at the retirement of my manager next Friday. Just because I have known him longer than most at the company.

I have't the foggiest what to write.

What I do have is 4 pages of events, information and facts from the year 1986 when he joined the company including the funny ones about mad cows, space probes reaching Uranus and songs like Land of Confusion by Genisis, Europe and Final Countdown, Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins. I know I won't be able to keep a straight face when I read them.

Where do I start?

Comments

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Wish I could help you on that one--I wouldn't know where to start either!

I guess I would keep it short, highlight the most important achievements, tell at least one funny story and then wrap up with how much everyone is going to miss him. :-)

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

I have raided the company photographic archived as well as staff photo albums for incriminating evidence... erm pictures of all the events and staff members since he started sort of like a year book and the MD gives the main speech our is for the gift presentation.

Ive got something drafted out so tomorow lm enlisting the help of the other long serving staff.

[hilde.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good plan! :)

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Ive posted in comments below my speech

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Ive posted in comments below my speech

[xanthe.livejournal.com]

I've had to do this a few times. Remember to say something nice about him (unless there's nothing nice to say!) and pay tribute to his achievements and how it was a a pleasure to work with as a colleague. Throw in some funny stuff but don't make that the majority of the speech - sometimes it can come over as glib and more about you than him. I've learned some of this stuff the hard way! My best speech was when my HR manager retired - I paid tribute to her and said a couple of funny things along the way, as well as summing up her contribution to the business and the way we all felt about her. I think people like to hear they've made a difference if they're retiring, but it also needs to be zingy enough not to bore the audience!!!

GOOD LUCK!

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Ive posted in comments below my speech

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Since the Boss is doing the speech about the events of the company and my managers role in it this is wheat I and my colleagues have come up with for when we present the Year Book

Firstly we would like to thank many members of staff and Mrs P for helping to provide the incriminating evid… erm, their assistance in arranging this event.

1986 was an interesting year in history. We saw Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister, Ronald Reagan as the US president, the birth of boxer, Amir Khan, and singer Charlotte Church and the passing of great people like actor Cary Grant, former Prime Minister Harold McMIllian and singer Phil Lynott

This year also heralded disasters like Chernobyl, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, 6.0 earthquake in southern Greece, five mountaineers dying on K2 and BSE Mad Cow disease was first diagnosed.

But 1986 wasn’t all doom and gloom. London Stock Exchange was computerised, Clive Sinclair sold ZX Spectrum to Amstrad, The Soviet Union launched the Mir space station and The Voyager 2 space probe made its first encounter with Uranus.

In the UK The world's first triple organ transplant was carried out at Papworth Hospital , Nissan opened a factory in Sunderland, and Richard Branson beat the Atlantic speed record. The TSB Bank was floated on the Stock exchange and we were told to “Tell Sid” as millions applied for British Gas shares.
M25 was opened and the Sun newspaper alleged that comedian Freddie Starr ate a live hamster. Over in Europe, Spain and Portugal entered European Community and France agreed with UK to span the English Channel with a tunnel.

In the Entertainment industry, we listened to music like Run-D.M.C. & Aerosmith’s – Walk This Way, Europe’s The Final Countdown, Genesis and Land of Confusion, and Huey Lewis & the News with Stuck With you. There was the first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Dolly Parton opened Dollywood.

Game show Catchphrase began on ITV and at the 58th academy awards Out of Africa won Best Picture. Other silver screen productions that year were Top Gun and Aliens. Karate Kid II, Crocodile Dundee and The Little Shop Of Horrors whilst in the West End Michael Crawford became The Phantom Of The Opera

In sport 1986 Heralded the world cup in Mexico city where the hand of GOD aided Argentina in defeating England and eventually go on to beat West Germany in the final, Nottingham Panthers secured their first trophy in thirty years and Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win the Masters. But the most significant and paralleling event was Alex Ferguson appointed manager of Manchester United football club and whom only a month ago announced his own retirement,

And so whilst the world meandered on, a seismic event happened at Greenwoods: BH joined the company on 8 September 1986. Since then... well, history speaks for itself.

Good luck Baz and best wishes for your future

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

1986 was an interesting year! I like it, it's funny and interesting--but do you have anything specific you can add about Baz himself and his time at the company? He would probably enjoy hearing about that. :-)

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Oh I have that sorted I just can't publish it on here it comes just after the football manager thing