As a young bloke, I often wondered why bosses had secretaries. I didn't realize then that bosses couldn't spell. Later, as an advertising copywriter for some years, I met many successful businessmen who could barely string a sentence together. For almost 5 years, I wrote ads for John Laws. He was and is a great ad libber, but I doubt that he has the ability to write his own scripts. He occasionally ripped my ads to shreds on air, so I used to put a dotted line across the middle of the page with "tear here" to make it easier hehe. He's also an avid reader, but I also know lots of bookworms who, themselves, don't have what it takes to write properly or even spell correctly for that matter.

Isn't it interesting that all political leaders have speech writers. Not sure about Churchill. Maybe he was an exception. I've heard many people say that Barack Obama is a great orator, as was John F Kennedy. But no one pays tribute to their speech writers.

The mystique surrounding Churchill and his speeches...............Eventually all will be revealed when the Cabinet papers are released.(Maybe) As with all sensitive issues sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

Churchill used doubles throughout the 2nd World war and his stirring speech  "We shall fight them on the beaches.........." is a case in question.

Churchill never made the speech himself despite being credited with doing so, it was one of his doubles. Churchill was meeting with other leaders in secret at the time. How many of his speeches were made by his double may never be revealed in full. Too much hype around and they will say it is too sensitive a matter to reveal.

Gary, my Dad was a good example of that. As was the case with a lot of his generation, he left school at 12, so that was as far as his education went to.

Many years later his boss wanted to make him Wharehouse Manager. Dad was grateful for the offer, but said to the boss that he'd have problems with the paperwork. His boss said that's what secretaries are for. The boss obviously saw that Dad was capable of doing the job, which he did for a further 10 years or so before his retirement.

I agree too that texting has a lot to do with it. A few years ago, my niece was doing it on facebook so I said to her, 'have you forgotten how to spell?' 'She said that's the way we young people talk Aunty.' (Yes, she had a smart mouth.) She had a good education and a good job. A few years on and she's matured enough to write the correct way, and isn't such a smart mouth either.

That's what happened when my watch fell off my wrist over the cliff I said then time flies.

Lance C

Beth54 wrote:

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Gary, my Dad was a good example of that. As was the case with a lot of his generation, he left school at 12, so that was as far as his education went to.

Many years later his boss wanted to make him Wharehouse Manager. Dad was grateful for the offer, but said to the boss that he'd have problems with the paperwork. His boss said that's what secretaries are for. The boss obviously saw that Dad was capable of doing the job, which he did for a further 10 years or so before his retirement.

I agree too that texting has a lot to do with it. A few years ago, my niece was doing it on facebook so I said to her, 'have you forgotten how to spell?' 'She said that's the way we young people talk Aunty.' (Yes, she had a smart mouth.) She had a good education and a good job. A few years on and she's matured enough to write the correct way, and isn't such a smart mouth either.

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 My sentiments entirely.

I'd be lost without my secretary, behind every good man is a better women.

 

Ken

Yuglamron wrote:

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The mystique surrounding Churchill and his speeches...............Eventually all will be revealed when the Cabinet papers are released.(Maybe) As with all sensitive issues sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

Churchill used doubles throughout the 2nd World war and his stirring speech  "We shall fight them on the beaches.........." is a case in question.

Churchill never made the speech himself despite being credited with doing so, it was one of his doubles. Churchill was meeting with other leaders in secret at the time. How many of his speeches were made by his double may never be revealed in full. Too much hype around and they will say it is too sensitive a matter to reveal.

Pray tell where you gleam your knowledge about Sir Winston Churchill?

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From Wikipedia:
Winston Churchill/Norman Shelley (1940s)

A recurring rumour holds that some of Winston Churchill's most famous speeches to Parliament during World War II were subsequently recorded for radio broadcast not by Churchill, but by Norman Shelley impersonating Churchill. Churchill is known to have commented that Shelley's impersonations were excellent. Although the rumour has been promoted by some historians, there is a lack of supporting evidence and it is best classified as an urban legend. Shelley did however record a performance of Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech, but that was several years after the speech was originally made.

I've never been able to factor in the zigs and zags of their flight trajectory.

Gary was correct. Ellanajoel was pretty close and definately acceptable.

My mum, who did her vce english at 74, was a stickler for punctuation.

Kevin