Having a walk around Winchester on Sunday morning, I noticed, near the cathedral, a very smartly dressed gentleman in red tails and wearing a matching red ribbon with a 'medallion' on it. It was tempting to stop him there and then and ask for a portrait for my project but that is not really my style. (I like to 'circle' a little!)
I felt vindicated when we came out of the cathedral refectory after coffee to find the same gentleman outside and to be asked if we were looking for the Wedding Fayre. ( Having been married 48 years, we definitely were not!) But it was a great introduction to Nigel who, in retirement, works as a Professional Toastmaster & Master of Ceremonies.
He was soon agreeing to my request for a photo for my project and I took a few shots. Nigel was generally directing folk to the room where the Wedding Fayre was being held. He told us that he attends some 40 to 45 weddings a year as a toast master and the remainder of his time is occupied with his 8 grandchildren. His wife was also manning their stall at the Fayre. I was naturally interested to know what his work had been and he said that he had run an independent DIY business from the very house in which he had been born 63 years ago.
He explained that his current work had seemed a natural progression from his love of amateur dramatics and his long membership of the Freemasons, whose protocols and formalities have definite similarities with those of the Toastmasters.
I thought his uniform very fetching with red tails and matching red ribbon and learnt that in the City of London, Toastmasters must wear a black jacket and in other areas the ribbons are of different colours.
I showed Nigel his photos on the rear screen, also a few shots I had been taking round and about and spoke a little about my love of photography. He wondered again if we would like to visit the Wedding Fayre where I could maybe have a chat with the professional photographers - I politely declined his offer.
When I offered photos by email, Nigel was pleased to accept and gave me his card. I never know where my quest for strangers will take me and this encounter was certainly different. It was great to meet such a charming and cheerful man on a sunny Sunday morning and learn about his life.
I have just been perusing the gallery of diverse and beautiful photos on Nigel's website - and hope he will like mine in portrait style!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/46547850215
No need for modesty here, Richard! Thanks for the fav!