Basingstoke

Fri 30th Jan 2009 by Ben Palmer.

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I was very glad to attend the South East Regional CEMACH conference in Basingstoke today. I was asked  to speak a few months ago, and as anyone who knows me will testify, I hate public speaking. As a result I blanked it until the last minute and just revised my last speech at the eleventh hour.

As yesterday approached, CEMACH offered me a corner of their table for my leaflets and books, then a table of my own. By the entrance/exit.

I was made to feel so special I forgot to be nervous this morning, especially as the chair of the conference handed me some Bachs Rescue Remedy. By the time my slot arrived I was feeling comfortable in the lecture theatre, knew what I had to say and launched in.

I knew to expect the rustle of tissues, but I was overwhelmed by the support shown afterwards, and the number of requests for a repeat performance in other parts of the country, and the speed at which copies of Friday's Child flew off the table later.

As promised to a number of delegates, here is the link to the text of my speech in Birmingham last year - largely unchanged today. And yes, I will consider recording it and putting it on YouTube. The more (student) midwives that hear it the better.

Things will change, thanks to Jessica.

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5 Responses to “Basingstoke”

1. Laura says:

   Sat 31st Jan 2009 at 20:35

   You star - well done! xxxx
2. Joleen says:

   Sun 1st Feb 2009 at 21:04

   Dear Ben,

   I was at the CEMACH conference in Basingstoke on friday and was very moved by your story. I have spent the weekend reading your book and consequently have run out of tissues.

   This has certainly made me think about how I will address these issues with studetn midwives in the future.

   As I said to you on friday it was a privilege to meet you and hear your story.

   Best wishes.

   Joleen
   • Ben Palmer says:

     Tue 3rd Feb 2009 at 12:12

     Joleen
     It was such a pleasure to meet you all last week, and I was made to feel so welcome and that my message was so important; thank you all. Maybe I should have had tissues to hand out as well, sorry!
     Best wishes
3. Gill says:

   Tue 3rd Feb 2009 at 10:24

   Dear Ben

   You're brave to get up there - and very clearly making a difference by doing that - as Joleen implicitly says, hearing and reading you is very powerful. Well done!

   Gill
   • Ben Palmer says:

     Tue 3rd Feb 2009 at 12:14

     Brave? Determined or stubborn, maybe! Thank you

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