Subject Areas:Personal Experiences
Name & Location:Mr Neil HANSON Ilkley
Contact & Website:
w: neilhanson.co.uk
Subjects:1) "Inn & Out at the Top" is a laugh-a-minute tour of the quirks and foibles, highs and lows of running Britain's highest inn - so isolated that its next-door neighbour was 4 miles away and so high above sea level that it had its own climate, with winds that could tear car-doors off their hinges, and winter snows that cut off the inn for weeks on end.

A hugely engaging storyteller, Neil Hanson's account of his time at the inn, grappling with tight-fisted farmers, eccentric characters, bizarre local customs, naturist weekends, "lates and lock-ins", police raids, rats in the attic, close encounters with magistrates and planners, and the shooting of a famous double glazing commercial, is suitable for all audiences.

2) "The Ghostwriter"

Author Neil Hanson has led a extraordinary life in his own right, but as a professional ghostwriter of over 70 published books, he has also worked with a remarkably diverse collection of the most interesting people around.

His clients include household names - an American showbiz legend, England's most famous cricketer, a famous actor, one of Britain's most decorated soldiers and an England football manager - but also many less celebrated men and women who have led extraordinary lives or achieved remarkable things, including SAS men, fast-jet pilots, explorers and adventurers, a treasure diver, a kidnap negotiator, a hugely successful businessman, a spy, a notorious gangster, a round the world walker, a submariner, a maxillofacial surgeon and many more.

A hugely engaging storyteller and award-winning speaker, Neil has entertained audiences at every type of occasion - corporate events, conferences, festivals, luncheon clubs, dinners and banquets - throughout the UK and right across the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

His talk "The Ghostwriter" gives us privileged glimpses into the hidden worlds of his ghostwriting clients, including some very famous names and some ordinary people achieving extraordinary things, and also reveals the truth behind one of the most earth-shattering events of our times. His talk is revelatory and insightful, but also very, very funny.

Best Speaker (vote by audiences), Brisbane Festival
'A brilliant talk, the best we've ever had.' Leeds U3A
'Great talk, we enjoyed it very much.' Graham Hastings-Evans, President British Association of Construction Heads
'We have had such positive feedback about your speech and how much they enjoyed it. My husband laughed so much he was nearly crying! ' Sandy Rysiok, Society of Municipal Treasurers
'It really was a pleasure to host you. I have had nothing but positive responses since the dinner – you really hit the right note.' Commander Andrew Coles, HMS Drake, Plymouth
'The talk was a huge hit with our audience, there have been a great many enthusiastic and positive comments.' Ilminster Festival
'The best - and the best-received - of all the 100 events we have put on here.' Ed Tracy, Executive Director, The Pritzker Library, Chicago
'The best speaker I've ever heard.' Audience member, Yate & Sodbury U3A
'Excellent, really enjoyable and entertaining.' Lucy Moody, Head of Advertising, Everest Ltd.
'Wonderfully entertaining speaker - will be live at the Apollo next!' Audience member, Knaresborough Festival
'The most entertaining speaker we've ever had' Sittingbourne Probus Club
'A wonderful talk.' Huntingdon U3A
'We have had some excellent speakers over the years, but you were the very best we have ever had.' Maurice Taylor, Organiser, Rossett and Wakeman Lectures
'Neil Hanson was an outstanding speaker – warm, funny, humane.' Stephen Brown, Chairman, Yorkshire Post Literary Luncheons
'You were awesome.' Thomas Power, Chairman, ecademy, London
'Thank you for being a wonderful speaker. Your humour, wit and entertaining ability kept a very diverse audience entranced.' Janet Munro, Soroptimist International
'Fantastic, a tremendous evening.' Amanda Lydon, The Tenement Museum, New York City
'I've been a member for 20 years and that was one of the best talks we've ever had.' Cranleigh Probus Club
'A very entertaining speech. You saw how well it went down.' University of Perth, WA
'The feedback we have had has been tremendous - many people have been telling us how much they enjoyed your talk.' Off The Shelf, Sheffield
'The audience loved it, as did we.' Wendy Kent, Knaresborough Festival
'A wonderful speech, thank you.' Audience member, D-Day Museum, New Orleans
'A huge thank you to Neil Hanson for doing such a wonderful event. It went down fantastically well.' Rachel Feldberg, Director, Ilkley Festival
'It was a joy to have you with us... your presentation drew raves.' Eli Paul, Director, National World War I Museum, Kansas City
'You were a star, everyone really enjoyed listening to you.' Yorkshire Post
'Extremely amusing and entertaining,' Peter Mate, U3A, Ilkley
'Thank you so much - your talk was brilliant.' Meriel Jeater, Curator, Museum of London
'A spellbinding talk. Thank you.' New Zealand Book Council, Wellington
'Neil Hanson offered the audience a great display of verbal pyrotechnics.' Sydney Festival
Availability & Fee:AnytimeNegotiable
Requirements: S, PS, OHP, T, FClick for requirements explanation
Areas Covered: All Yorkshire covered
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