
I live in Oulton Broad, Suffolk, England with my Wife Jeanette. I enjoy meeting people and visiting clubs etc to present the Talks that I do. These talks are designed not to suffer death by Powerpoint/Keynote but to engage with my audience. The principle that I follow is 'My Audience will only be interested if I am interesting'. Communicator, Presenter & Life Strategist.
With a clear but simple mission of helping and inspiring others, rWtalks is a proud to be a Speaker that is known for making a memorable impact. My unique approach combined with exceptional guidance and contagious enthusiasm makes my talks perfect for a large variety of audiences and events.
By providing with the right tools and knowledge, rWtalks has helped countless people understand unique untold stories, insights into my role within the UK Extractive industry which paved the way towards both personal and professional success. Get in touch with me to learn more.
Angels in Drab This Talk came about when visiting Papua New Guinea and discovering within the Port Moresby 'Bomana' Commonwealth War Cemetery the headstone of Sister Marie Eileen Craig (1913-1946) who was an Australian Nurse. 1946, the Douglas DC-3 “Dakota” aircraft in which she was travelling, and carrying patients back home from Biak (Indonesia) to Townsville, Australia, crashed into Mountains of West Irian (Papua New Guinea). The 9 crew members, Sister Craig, and also the 27 Australian soldiers, all sadly perished in the horrific air crash. This prompted me when back in the UK to research the full story of Marie Eileen Craig and then producing a Talk covering Nursers Roles from around the world during WW2. Hence the title Angels in Drab (Drab being a military term).
A Soldiers 500 Day Odyssey   The 45th Infantry Division of the United States Army, in World War 2 had more combat days than any other U.S. unit and served in Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. This is about one man's part in what he called 500 days. Felix Sparks came from the ‘Dust Bowl’. Miami, Arizona. Born August 2nd 1917. Sparks took off to San Antonio and found himself joining the Army. Becoming a Corporal in the US. Army Coast Guard Artillery at Camp Kamehameha, 1936.
He returned back to resume his college qualifications, and after this he returned back to Officers training summer camp in early 1940.
September 1940 he received a letter ‘Greetings’ letter informing him he was being called for active service. Sparks joined the 157th Regiment, 45th Infantry Division serving as a 2nd Lieutenant. He loathed his time a Fort Sill but admired his Commander Colonel Charles Ankcom (a Flanders veteran)… Also this year he married his Wife Mary. (Becoming pregnant as he just left). Sparks left Hampton Roads, Virginia on the USS Charles Carol, a 500ft Transport ship. There was debate as to where they were heading to France or via the Panama Canal to the Pacific. He ended in landing in Sicily, onto Salerno into the toe of Italy towards Naples. Soon after he was wounded and then sent back to Algiers. From this he managed to get back to Italy to join his Company at Anzio. Then onto St. Maxime, France to head towards eventually Nuremberg thinking at this point the war was nearly over for him he then received a message from divisional level ordering him to secure was described as a “concentration camp” Located on the outskirts of a town called Dachau!
Upon returning to civilian life, Sparks attended the University of Colorado Law School, graduating in 1947. After opening a law practice in Delta, Colorado, he was elected district attorney there, running as the Democratic Party candidate. Following his reelection loss in 1952, Governor Ed Johnson appointed him to fill an unexpired term on the Colorado Supreme Court. At the end of that term, he returned to his law practice in Delta. He was also in the Colorado Army National Guard, notably during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and, between 1968 and 1979 served as its commander, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General.
On September 25, 2007, 8 weeks past his 90th birthday, Felix Lawrence Sparks died in Colorado from complications due to pneumonia.
Life as a Occupational Health & Safety Officer   After spending most of my career in the UK Extractive Industry I was asked to be at the time the Health & Safety Advisor for the RMC Aggregates Division based in Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Always having a positive stance for ensuring H & S was at the forefront I accepted this role and there on in for the next 14 years became a Qualified Occupational, Health & safety Professional. In this role I talk about why it's so important to get the workforce engaged in being proactive in H & S, equally that the business leaders must be visible in their actions as well. The downside being that accidents occurred and this is discussed in my talk, and why such accidents need to be investigated. There is some light hearted moments relating to people's perception in the workplace and generally with the everyday public, e.g. 'O you're one of them'. Key is not to take anything personally.
I can also be contacted via
Facebook, Twitter:
@RogerOB49 and Linkedin. My fee starts from £45 and cost incurred for travelling within a radius of approximately 100 miles. There is a flat rate for delivering talks over the media platform. I have all my own equipment if not available locally. rogerwoodard@icloud.com, +44 7397192299
Other talks available are:
The History of the UK Extractive Industry (How this has changed over time).‘Perception and Reality’ Why the Extractive Industry is so important to the UK Economy. Especially now
after CV-19.
Investigating Major Accidents, Why it's so important.
Piper Alpha, Lessons Learnt?
Bluewater Horizon Disaster, Profit over Caution?
The ‘Pennyvenie' Incident (Scottish Coal Major Accident)
What is a Quarry? (This explains the how a quarry starts, produces to its restoration).
Leadership, Good & Bad
Europe and the Aftermath in 1945.
’The Battle for Moscow’.
The Untold Story of the Battle for ‘Smolensk, 1943’.
Most can also be presented over media platforms such as Zoom/Teams.
Can possibly also do short notice if asked.
I offer talks, presentations and lecture on different subjects. These talks are not about me, they are about real events and people. Regarding lectures. These relate to specific subject on Human Behaviour in Occupational Health & Safety.
“I appreciate some talks I do, may not be to everyone's liking, but usually people are quite surprised when it comes to perception rather than fact”.