Speech by Darren Ward

Speech Type: Best man
Speech Creator: Darren Ward
Speech Date: Jun2006
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, as most of you have probably guessed already from the church I am the best man, however for those of you who don't know me personally, my name is Darren and I would like to begin, on behalf of Laurence and Traci, by thanking you all for being here and sharing their special day with them.

I must firstly say how fantastic Traci and the bridesmaid's look and what a great job Amber, Georgia and Alfie have done.

I would like to thank Laurence for asking me to be his best man. I think he must have been a little worried if I would bottle out because he has six substitutes standing by. All wearing the same outfit as me and some of them with speeches in their pocket. I even saw Dave practising his speech in the mirror last night.
To be fair it was a lot better than mine. Unfortunately I haven't been able to borrow Daves as he has locked it in the hotel safe.

I have known Laurence for many years having grown up together on the mean streets of South Hanwell and have had many a night out together in such delightful places as Ealing, Watford and when we fancied going upmarket Richmond

However I had better get on with the rest of the speech because as the man in the suit shop said to me when I was getting fitted out “ there is a lot to fit in”.

I would like to thank Laurence for asking me to be his best man. We have been friends for many years and he has always said I am discreet and he could trust me with his life. @@@@@@@@@@@@ well that was until now.

I would like to start by telling you a little bit about Laurence the early years which will be followed by Laurence the wonder years and the wonder what happened to those years. I am sure however that Laurence and Traci's marriage will be the golden years of both of their lives.

I have had to do a lot of research on Laurence and try to come up with some interesting facts. His parents have kindly given me a copy of one of his old school reports and when I asked his friends they both provided me with some material.

Going back to Laurence's school reports and this is what his head teacher had to say about him.

“Laurence is FILL IN ABOUT HIM BEING TIMID” etc

But Laurence managed to overcome his timidness by joining boxing club and soon discovered he could beat all the twelve year olds fairly comfortably. It did help that he was seventeen at the time.

I understand Laurence won his last five fights by a distance @@@@@ 100 metres weren't it Laurence.

Laurence's modesty would have stopped him from telling you how good he was at sport as a child but he never stopped him telling me!!!!

Laurence's school report also mentioned his aptitude for maths and Laurence has carried this through into his working life having carved out a career as an accountant at Schroders.

I have never worked with Laurence but knowing how meticulous he is in everything he does I am sure he is a great person to work with.

It was at work where Laurence and Traci met. I have been told he was a little shy at approaching her first but had a cunning plan to keep borrowing her stapler.

Traci saw through this Baldrick esque plan when she found out Laurence worked on the floor below hers.

I have no way of backing this story up but am told Traci finally relented to go out with Laurence when she found out he wasn't carrying the stapler in his pocket to try and impress her!!!

Finally I would like to tell you a story, which sums up what a great lad Laurence is.
Many years ago when I was a little short on the financial side Laurence phoned me and said he would pay for me to get a cab to the pub and but me drinks all night.

It could be because he is a great lad or he had been stood up @@@@@@@@@@@@ Again.

Turning to Laurence @@@@@ “thanks for those 2 fosters and the tizer.

NOTE = Mention Laurence being a great father, son, uncle etc

TOAST to Laurence and Traci.