If u3a gave an annual prize for the best speaker they had heard, there is little doubt that Paul Whittaker OBE would be in the running. It was an education to hear how, despite being profoundly deaf since birth, he has managed to not only pursue a career as a pianist and organist but was the first person to use his sign language skills to sign for the BBC Proms and has gone on to sign for most of the well-known stage musicals.

He had the whole audience laughing for almost the whole time and taught us how to sign along with to the 1964 recording by the Dixie Cups of ‘Going to the Chapel’. In addition, we were treated to some unknown but beautiful music.

I think everyone would agree that Paul should be on our list of returning speakers in the future as his wonderful personality is a joy to experience.