Suffolk Toastmaster - Steven Williams

The traditions of drinking to the health of guests, dignitaries, gods and goddesses has been around since ancient history and is well documented in Greek & Roman times.

The term “TOAST” as associated with the drinking of someone’s health is believed to have come from middle ages when spiced TOAST was added to wine to improve the flavour! The person responsible for this duty became known as the “Master of the Toast”.

The first known instance of a toast to a person was recorded in 1649 by master of the toast, or latterly the butler who thereafter  took on the role of proposing the toasts.

The toastmaster or master of ceremonies can be traced back for over three hundred years  although the recongnisable history begain in Bath with Richard “Beau”Nash in 1705

Nash would have wore a coloured frock coat, knee breasches, black stockings and black silver-buckled shoes, and would carry a black cane which he would bang on the floor to gain attention.

In 1894 the noted toastmaster William Knight Smith became increasingly incensed at being addressed as a waiter or butler by the assembled company he was attending too (being dressed in a black tailcoat). It was his wife who suggested he wore a military red coat to distinguish his role. It was later seen by The Prince of Wales (later King Edward the Seventh) who formally approved of the colour, and to this day the red coat is worn by the modern day professional toastmaster.

The Toastmaster or master of ceromoneis is often seen at wedding receptions and official banquets, charity events & formal corporate dinners, still dressed in the red tailcoat. The proffesional toastmaster brings centuries of tradition to any formal event .His expertise of these occasions ensure the smooth and efficient running of the event .