Testimonials from past talks

"As we pay our speakers for their presentations, it is rare for me to write and thank them. In fact this is only the second occasion I have written in my ten-year tenure as programme secretary, and believe me, we've had some excellent speakers. An unprecedented number of our members commented to me on the all round excellence of your presentation. I feel sure it won't be long before we are welcoming you once again - the members will make sure of that!"

"Just thought I'd let you know that 148 people attended your talk - by far our biggest audience this season and the biggest I can recall for a January meeting. I have spoken to many people since the talk and everyone was effusive in their praise for your presentation - I can't recollect such a positive reaction before. Like many, I rate your talk as one of the best if not the best in the 5 years I've being going to the RSGS.  I'm sure you will have been aware of people's reaction - the volume of the applause at the end was a strong indication of how much they had enjoyed the experience."

"On behalf of the Lecture Series Committee, I would like to thank you very much for speaking at the RDS yesterday. We had the largest audience we have ever attracted for a travel lecture. I had some wonderful feedback on your talk from Members as they left the room, and have had calls from Members today telling me how much they enjoyed it. I look forward to inviting you back to the RDS in the future."

"It was a privilege to hear such an experienced and professional speaker. He was so familiar with his subject that the whole place came alive, we were enthralled with the words and pictures and enthused with the desire to visit this spectacular and special place."

"...your splendid talk on the Grand Canyon. There was a buzz of excitement from members afterwards and demands that we invite you back soon, which I hope to do. Your comprehensive presentation of the Grand Canyon, covering so many aspects, historical, environmental, geographical and personal experiences made for a fascinating evening. Very many thanks again."

"David Edwards transported the Grand Canyon to Esher. He held the audience captive with delight with his superb photography and informative narrative: a lecture not to be missed."

"I am writing to thank you once again for the outstanding talk you gave here on The Grand Canyon. Many students have commented on the lecture since last Tuesday - they clearly found it as inspiring and exhilarating as I did. Your commentary really brought home the uniqueness of the place. Your use of anecdotes and humour was greatly appreciated by us all, and I thought one of the most important features of the talk was the invitation to consider the broader environmental issues."

"Thank you so very much for giving us such an entertaining and informative lecture. We enjoyed your company - you must come again! Once again many thanks for a memorable evening."

"Sincere thanks for a superb evening last night; everyone enjoyed it. The slides were good and some absolutely beautiful, the story was good and you are a born storyteller, being able to play and hold an audience so well. These are, I think, the prerequisites of a successful evening but grafted in amongst this was 'nitty gritty' geography so that we learnt much as well as being entertained."

"Having Mr. Edwards spend time on our campus was super.  His interaction with students and his knowledge of environmental issues provided us with a unique opportunity.  It is obvious from David's intense interest in such issues and his ability to tell a great story, that he enjoys sharing his experiences and insights, and indeed feels that such interaction is vital to solving problems."

"..your lecture was the perfect balance between factual, historical and geographic information and personal reminiscences and experiences. It takes a lot of skill to entertain as well as educate and you did it to perfection."

"David Edwards proved to be a real winner.....an excellent mix of stunning images and hard fact and pitched at just the right level."

"Your presentation was the best I have ever heard."

"Your engaging manner, superb slides and sly sense of humour made this a real highlight of our season. I have seldom heard such a warm reception for a speaker and I hope it will not be too long before you visit us again."

"Many thanks for a memorable presentation … feel free to mention that I have recommended you.”

"..such a splendid lecture...one of our best ever in our 50 year history."

"All agree that your Grand Canyon lecture was quite outstanding.”

"Thank you for your excellent presentation. Our patrons were impressed with your slides but most of all enthralled.”

"May I take this opportunity to thank you again for such an enjoyable and informative talk which for those who have already been, must have enriched their perspective; and for those of us who haven't as yet, moved it up the list of where to visit next!”

"What an enjoyable time we had seeing your wonderful slides and bringing so much alive to us the time you spent at the Grand Canyon. So many people have approached me since to say how very much they enjoyed listening to you and saying it was a long time since we had had anyone as good as you in fact! Here's to the next time!”

"The boys, both age groups, were fascinated by you and all you had to say.”

"Your lecture was undoubtedly one of the best we have had this season, and we look forward eagerly to a return visit.”

"On behalf of the Council, Members and guests of the Institution, thank you for giving such a vivid and superbly illustrated talk. It was clear that you have developed an affinity for Montserrat and the people who live there. I hope that we can arrange another talk in the future.”

"...thank you for a first rate lecture - stimulating, extremely informative - covering so many aspects - and enhanced by your anecdotes and lovely humour. Haste ye back to Dundee, we did enjoy the evening with you.”

"Thank you very much indeed for coming and giving us such a wonderful lecture last Friday, which was hugely enjoyed by all present. It ranks among the very best we have had in our Centre.....boys and parents have been talking about it since in glowing terms.”

"We enjoy your idiosyncratic style which includes so many amusing as well as illustrating anecdotes and your own enthusiasm for place and subject matter transmits itself to the audience, engaging full attention......so many members commented on the excellent content of the lecture..."

"This is just to say how thoroughly everyone again enjoyed your visit, and the President told me afterwards that a third visit had been requested. "

"Congratulations on such a well constructed and entertaining talk. You certainly used your time well while working at the Grand Canyon, and your depth of knowledge of the area was one reason for the audience's enthusiastic response. We intend to invite you to return quite soon."

"Kathleen and I (and many others) thought it was a superb evening. We will be inviting you back very soon (i.e. in next season’s brochure) to do the Grand Canyon lecture.”

"You gave the Association a really superb evening."

“Many thanks for a superb lecture which was both entertaining and informative. Everyone enjoyed it enormously. We discussed the possibility of you paying us a return visit next year to talk about your experiences on Montserrat. Would any of the following dates be convenient……”

“Your talk was interesting and entertaining and I know our audience enjoyed it too as we have had terrific feedback from a lot of them. I am interested in your talk on Montserrat for a future booking……”

“The Grand Canyon in all its glory - told to us with absolute enthusiasm and insight into an extraordinary part of the world - without pause for well over an hour - and all the ladies still seated at the end absolutely enthralled !!...- the ladies were very appreciative and were still talking about you several days later - this I heard via our Health Club & Beauty Salon and from a speaker at another local group !! …”

“Thank you so much for making the long haul to Sheffield on Wednesday and giving such a splendid talk to our club. Everyone enjoyed hearing you so much and I hope you enjoyed their enthusiasm! Regards and I really hope we will see you again talking about Montserrat.”

“We all greatly enjoyed your visit and excellent lecture. We have been having lecture series for a number of years but one of our members said to me after your lecture - 'This is the best we have had!' Our good wishes...”

“What can I say? You gave us a brilliant evening and I cannot thank you enough. I am sure that you gave great pleasure to all who were there. We enjoyed your tales and your slides and will look forward to welcoming you back sometime in the future.”

"Many thanks for last night's lecture - it was so well received by everyone I have spoken to since. No doubt we shall be entertaining you again and you us with another of your talks!"

“Thank you so much for a splendid lecture last night. The audience thoroughly enjoyed it and were keen to take part in the questions afterwards. Depending on your future programme, perhaps you would like to give us your Grand Canyon talk? How about October next year...”

"Many, many thanks for your wonderful Montserrat talk yesterday at Hall Grove. The pupils haven't stopped talking about it all day! It was a fascinating insight into how so much physical change can happen in such a short period of time and how the community responded to the disaster. Your very personal take on the events made it all the more compelling. We'd love to have you back in the New Year for one of your other talks!"

"The Head couldn't have been more complimentary about Dave's talk. He thought it was excellent, and Dave had a brilliant rapport with the kids. We would definitely like to book him again."

"I wanted to write formally to thank you very much indeed for not only acting as a judge at the Festival of Postgraduate Research, but for your superb keynote speech at the award ceremony. Student presenters, academics, and external sponsors alike, have said how impressed they were with both the content and the delivery of your talk. To use the words of the Graduate Dean, your presentation was "exemplary". I know the brief had presented you with some challenges, but hearing your presentation on Friday made me realise just how much thought, hard work and commitment you had given it, and for all of that, I am incredibly grateful. Above all, just as it was back in 2000 when I first heard you present in Chester, it was your sheer passion and belief on Friday that once again left the greatest impression. My sincere thanks once again for contributing to the success of the Festival, and I hope that it's not another seven years before I have the pleasure of working with you again."