Please note. We are trying to piece together information from multiple sources to give an insightful look into the world of our profession as toastmasters and masters of the ceremonies. We will do our best to make this site as accurate with its content as is possible. We are already getting a reaction from some of our visitors, some of whom are able to provide further information which will will be pleased to use as time allows. Thank you for your interest and please feel free to comment at any time by contacting info@thetoastmaster.co.uk or phoning 01245 222392 or 07971 409977 at any time.

The role of the toastmaster has been a unique position in English society for more than 300 years. Its recognisable history began in Bath with Richard 'Beau' Nash, the Master of the Ceremonies in 1705.

Soon after arriving in Bath, Richard Nash became assistant to the city's then Master of the Ceremonies, King Webster. After Websters death, Richard Nash was appointed Master of the Ceremonies, a position he held for over 56 years during the reign of 3 monarchs. Richard Nash wore a coloured frock coat, knee breeches, black stockings and black silver buckled shoes. He used a black cane which he would bang on the floor to gain attention, this stayed the accepted dress code until towards the end of the 19th century.

In 1894, William Knightsmith, a well known and respected toastmaster, working mainly in London, was becoming increasingly incensed at being addressed as ' waiter' by attendees at the various functions where he was working.

His wife Mettie (who he married on September 6th 1881, at Palace Gardens Church, Kensington. by Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bailey, when he was resident at "Cleethorpes" Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Essex) suggested changing the colour of his long tailed coat to make him stand out. So, at the Freemasons Tavern (now the Connaught Rooms) in that same year (1894), he wore his new scarlet coat for the second time to give recognition and added dignity to the profession. Other toastmasters who saw it at first considered it a little eccentric, ridiculed him and thought it a joke. They were however soon glad to get a copy of the design and even to borrow his own coat.

When William Knightsmith attended a banquet of about 500 Civil engineers, at which the Prince of Wales was present, he appeared as toastmaster in his ordinary black coat. This was because, at a function that William Knightsmith attended the week prior to this banquet, at the Holborn Restaurant for holders of the Kitchener Scholarships he heard the Prince of Wales mention in his very witty speech, "I don't suppose any of you would relish going onto the Hall dressed in the toastmaster's red coat."

The fact that William Knightsmith was not wearing his scarlet coat was noticed by the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward the Seventh) who was heard to say by some of the other guests, "I am sorry to see that our old friend has not got his scarlet coat." 

Having overheard the remark, Mr. Knightsmith slipped out of the room during one of the speeches and hurriedly changed into his scarlet coat, which he had brought with him. When he re-entered the hall in his new scarlet coat, there was enthusiastic clapping by the company, in which the Prince joined and there were approvals of the colour.

Within a year, virtually all the toastmasters in London were wearing the long tailed scarlet coat, similar to the 'hunting pink' .

An article written nearly a century ago by William Knightsmith stated that, "The toastmaster, on whom the success of a banquet depends to a large extent, is now always expected to appear in a scarlet coat. It distinguishes him from the hundreds of guests in ordinary dinner-dress and marks him out as a man who has a unique part to play in the ceremonials. 

A toastmaster must appear to be a member of the gathering and yet must stand apart.

I have had to politely refuse many famous men who said, "Have one with me," because I have seen so many toastmasters ruined by a taste for conviviality. And yet it is more interesting to be outside the circle and watch those who are dining and speaking. You see many humorous incidents and hear many remarks which are missed by those who have enjoyed the banquet."

Like Richard Nash, William Knight smith served 3 generations of Monarchs, appearing before 7 European Monarchs who heard his voice, King Edward and King George, two kings of Denmark, and the Kings of Spain Italy, and Norway, many Princes and innumerable aristocrats.

William and Met tie Knight smith celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with a dinner at the Palace Hotel, Southend on Sea, Essex on Monday 7th September 1931. A two-tier wedding anniversary cake was provided by one of their daughters, Mrs. Stevenson from Banwell, Somersetshire. The guests included Mr. Edward Francis Lanscelles, who is a distant relative by marriage to Lord Harewood, was present with his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Knightsmith's two daughters and son, all of whom were married, and the seven grand children, were all at the gathering.

William Knightsmith had been a toastmaster for 40 years and sadly passed away in his arm chair due to heart failure, after a bout of influenza at the age of 73, in his home in Shepherds Bush on Friday 12th February 1932. His funeral took place at Hammersmith Cemetery at 2.30pm on Wednesday 17th February 1932. 

Mr. Knightsmith who was a vocalist as a boy, had a wonderfully impressive and resonant voice. He started his working life as a teacher of dancing, but because of his majestic voice was soon advised to become a toastmaster. William Knightsmith was not only the most famous toastmaster in the world; he virtually started toastmastering. He was the first toastmaster to make a full-time profession of it, and the first to invent a uniform to do it in.

It was law that the hunt was not allowed to pass through the city of London and therefore toastmasters generally do not wear the red tailcoat, otherwise known as 'hunting pink',( but only similar to and not an exact copy of, the hunting pink ) in the city. It is widely thought that the hunting pink got its name from the tailor, a Mr. Thomas Pink, who created the original design.

A toastmaster is brought in to preside over an event and must be immediately recognised. The tradition that he should be even more splendidly dressed that the guests goes back to one of the earliest toastmasters/Masters of Ceremonies, Beau Nash, the 18th century dandy and professional gambler who lived and worked in both Bath and Tunbridge Wells.

Even 'toast' has a lurid history. It was a slang expression in the 17th century, meaning either a naked lady or a spicy crouton.

The role is not exclusively male, although ladies prefer to be known as toastmasters rather than toastmistresses.

In the words of William Knightsmith, at an interview with Fenn Sherie," I once heard an after-dinner speaker say that "Toastmasters step in where angels fear to tread." These were indeed true words spoken in jest, for I cannot imagine any profession which calls for greater discretion, tact, and diplomacy than that of the toast-master at an important social or political function."

The picture of William Knightsmith (above) taken by Richard Palmer, courtesy of the Cafe Royal, Regent Street, London, where the painting hung in the Tudor Rooms until December 2008, is owned by the National Association of Toastmasters.

The picture below is available courtesy of Getty Images depicting William Knightsmith at the London Olympic Games in 1908

In the words of William Knightsmith " I have a certificate from Lord Desboroughin in appreciation of "services rendered" at the "White City", Shepherd's Bush. I acted in the capacity of megaphone man at the Stadium during the Olympic Games, and I believe I was the first man ever professionally employed as a megaphonist."

The English Toastmasters Association offers training to the highest standard for those wishing to become a toastmaster, and alignment days for experienced toastmasters wishing to join the English Toastmasters Association. This training includes a course module on the history of toastmasters. The English Toastmasters Association is currently the fastest growing Association for toastmasters in the UK. Please visit the website for further details.

Information about William Knightsmith as shown on this page and presented by Richard Palmer from the English Toastmasters Association is checked for correctness and accuracy and is fully backed up by proper documentary evidence of that correctness. This information is the copyright of Richard Palmer of the English Toastmasters Association

I am extremely grateful to the family of the late William Knightsmith for their help, support and kindness that they have shown to me and to The English Toastmasters Association.

Please be aware that the name William Knightsmith is properly shown in this form and is not correct when shown as William Knight - Smith or William Knight Smith.

History of English Toastmasters from the 1950s

Bringing the history of our profession a little more up to date and moving on to the organisations representing toastmasters, the first such organisation to be formed in 1953 was the Society of London Toastmasters. The first president of that society was Harold Dean who wrote the book My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, which was first published in 1957 by John Long & Co (Publishers) Ltd., of 178 - 202, Great Portland Street, London W.1. As a point of interest, this book was printed by the Anchor Press Ltd., in Tiptree, Essex which is only a few miles from the headquarters of the English Toastmasters Association.

Harold Dean began to keep a permanent record of his engagements from 1925 and noted that he had worked at a great many different types of functions as diverse as a staff ball for the servants at a block of flats, a Masonic Ladies' Festival, a dinner for city tradesmen, a meeting of tailors and outfitters, a local political club dinner, a society ball at the Hotel Cecil and not least in interest, the farewell reception given to the All Blacks Rugby Football team.

Back in 1957, Harold Dean referred to William Knightsmith as "the doyen of toastmasters", commenting that "he was a law to himself. Strict as a judge in every point of etiquette, he would stand up to any man, guest or servant, who tried to outface him when he was sure he was in the right".

For toastmasters who still do not attend weddings at churches, temples, synagogues and other venues, it may be noted that this has been happening, at the clients' request, since the 1940's. Brides and grooms get real benefit from this services and it raises the bar on service and care on what is after all a most special day for all concerned.

For those interested here is a revue of this book by J. MCCARRAHER "James" (South Coast) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

James joined the English Toastmasters Association at the end of October 2011

This review is from: My Lords,Ladies and Gentlemen (Hardcover)

I doubt if this note will get many reads, but for the few who find it, let me give you an insight into a Harold Dean's world. Dean was the best of the second generation of Toastmasters, having worked alongside the likes of Knightsmith in the early Twenties. He worked almost exclusively in the Square Mile and covered about 10,000 events in his career. His book gives us a wonderful insight into a truly honourable profession and offers us a window into customs and personalities that prevailed at the time. The style of the book is now a little quaint, but it is nevertheless delightful and historically very important. A must for every Toastmaster.

If you are interested in obtaining an original copy of this book please contact the head office of the English Toastmasters Association on 01245 222392 or 07971 409977  Limited copies are available at £125.00 including postage and packaging.

The start of the Association of Toastmasters and Masters of Ceremonies.

After the second world war, with men returning to 'Civvy Street' in the late 1940s and early '50s the banqueting world found new interest from the populous and functions were became more popular. Around 12 Toastmasters who had worked as toastmasters before the war returned to their previous work but found with the level of demand increasing, they could not cope with the increased workload. More interest in our profession came from some men who now they were no longer in uniform, were finding that the idea of becoming a Toastmaster and Masters of Ceremonies was very appealing. New faces were starting to build good reputations. Some of the older Toastmasters who thought that an 'elite' organisation would be useful to close ranks formed a Society within the profession based primarily in London.

They were selective and pulled in members from the 'old guard' and many of the new contenders found themselves unable to join as they performed as Masters of Ceremonies during the dancing. These newer entrants recognised that an essential part of their capabilities at that time related to the people that wanted to be motivated and entertained.

During 1955 a group of 8 Toastmasters and M.C.s, at the invitation of Maurice Lewin, met with a view to forming another organisation. The Association of Toastmasters and Masters of Ceremonies (A.T.M.C.) was thus formed with broader terms of reference for their members and encompassing the whole of the United Kingdom.

The aims for the A. T. M. C. were to:
1. Establish and maintain the highest standards of professional activity and behavior.
2. Exchange ideas and views on the whole of the profession.
3. Interchange work between themselves.
4. Have discussions on protocol and procedure with the intention of sustaining those standards and assuring accuracy of knowledge.
5. Generally to represent the professions of Toastmaster as an important and vital part of the banqueting world.

Numbers of members were on the increase as the volume of work was growing. During the 1970s and early '80s, the necessity to be an M.C. became less important, as the type of dancing and music had changed almost beyond recognition. As the era of Rock and Roll, the Twist and other modern dances took hold, there was less demand for the newer bands to play the old style music which was fast losing popularity. During 1973 it was thought prudent to change the old name of the A.T.M.C. to The National Association of Toastmasters because the need to act as a Dance M.C. was no longer a necessity.

If you are looking for a wedding toastmaster or a toastmaster for any type of function please visit our website. Any one of our members would be pleased to discuss your requirements further.

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01245 222392 / 07971 409977 / 01245 225511

Last Updated 13.52hrs Monday 13th February 2012

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