Ray O'Brien
My name is Ray O’Brien, based in the Wirral, and I am available to speak on any one of the following topics, whichever you feel would be most appropriate for your group.
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1. I was a Probation Officer for nearly 25 years before taking early retirement, and my duties involved my working in a variety of locations on Merseyside including Liverpool (Walton) Prison. This is a mainly a humorous talk based on personal experiences.
2. On retirement I became a freelance writer and have had six books published, including three relating to the Beatles early venues in Merseyside and North Wales. I attended the Liverpool Institute High School at the same time as Paul McCartney and George Harrison and was a member of Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club in the early 1960’s, and this talk is based on the Beatles early career and the venues listed in my books.
3. A Magical Mystery tour takes you on an imaginary bus excursion around the Wirral taking you to places that not only the Beatles but other stars had associations with, so you do not need to be a fan of the Beatles to appreciate this talk.
4. Mersey Sounds examines the musical influence on the region from Lita Roza, Frankie Vaughan, Michael Holliday and Billy Fury plus the Jazz and Folk scene and includes the various Merseybeat performers and venues.
5. My most recent book ‘Merseyside Entertainers From Both Sides of the River’ charts the background of forty entertainers including Ken Dodd, Arthur Askey, Leonard Rossiter, Paticia Routledge etc. This hugely popular talk concentrates on approximately twelve of those featured . I reveal where they were brought up, educated and worked before they became famous, laced with some amusing anecdotes.
6. ‘Your favourite sit com’ is a humorous talk based on the classic comedy series from the 1960’s and 1970’s including favourites such as Dads Army, Fawlty Towers, Porridge and Rising Damp. Your group will have the opportunity at the end of the talk to select their favourite sit com of all time.
7. ‘Name that tune’ features some classic hits from the 1950’s and 1960’s when I play a brief segment of a song and the participants have to name both the singer and song. This takes the form of a paper quiz with the answers given at the completion of the quiz.
8. Similar to the above but based on TV theme tunes ie Upstairs Downstairs, Emmerdale and The Onedin Line etc. Both are popular for a more informal event ie Christmas or a special occasion event.
9. Choose your decade is an amusing look back at the 1950’s, 1960’s or 1970’s. Just select which one you feel would be most suited to your group. A fun filled nostalgia experience.
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All talks are of approximately 45 minutes duration but can be
longer or shorter depending on your preference.
I can be contacted on 0151 512 8398 or email Rayo1@ntlworld.com