Peter Hall
Drug and Alcohol Awareness Speaker
Examples of unsolicited feedback:
I wanted to thank you for your talk this evening. Not only from me but on behalf of all the girls in my house who all enjoyed your talk. I think you really caught the attention of my peers and only few people can do that. We were all speechless.
Pupil, Rugby School
Your talk really made me think hard about situations in my life and situations I may come across as I grow up. For that, I am very grateful to you.
Pupil, The Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh
The feedback from the children was very positive. As ever, your talk is the part of the morning they found the most memorable, the most useful and the most informative.
Dominique Micheloud St Edmund's School, Cantebury
I thought your presentation was excellent. I'm glad it went well with the 6th form too. Feedback at our end has been good across the board.
Andy Woodward, The Harrodian, London
Thank you, Peter, for coming and delivering your talk to our Year 10 and 11 students. They were gripped for the full hour and it has generated much discussion. The parents talk afterwards was equally well received and has helped to open discussions around the dinner tables of Norfolk this weekend!
Phil McComish, Langley School
Thanks so much for coming along to BGS and I have indeed had really excellent feedback, the students were mesmerised and I hope we'll be able to have you to speak to another group of students again in the future.
Louise Glenn, Bristol Grammar School
Thank you again for the assembly - it was fantastic and has had nothing but positive feedback. When I produce my end-of-year report, I will certainly mention it as being a "must have" for next year.
Carlo Dunn, Gloucester High School for Girls
You were brilliant this week. Thank you so much for your input – I have no doubt that the boys took home gems of wisdom which will be invaluable for them.
Frances Steadman, Whitgift School
It was helpful to hear a different perspective (ie from the coal face) on drugs and alcohol and delivered in such an honest and personal way. When I got home I had a chat with my son about it and a year on, the talk is still resonating with him. Peter Hall is providing a fabulous service.
Parent, RGS Newcastle
I just wanted to email you to say a massive thank you for the talk this morning. It was moving and informative and without a doubt was the most interesting and worthwhile talk I have been to. What you said will stay with me for a long time.
Pupil, Kings Taunton
You lectured at my school last Thursday. I have to say it was one of the best talks that I have ever been to, your story is amazing.
Pupil, Marlborough
Just a quick note to say thanks a million for coming to Downside. Your talk was fantastic and elicited an extremely positive reaction. I think that what you said will have sewn some very important seeds in the minds of your audience, which will prove extremely useful in years to come.
Andrew Hobbs, Downside
The boys were fascinated by your talk and those that I have spoken to have been universal in their praise.
Andy Wilkinson, Hampton School
Your talk is one of the bedrocks of our lecture series and we are delighted that you chose to return each year.
Craig Foxall, Colfe's
Many thanks for coming to Downside. I have had very positive feedback from both staff and pupils so I'm sure we will want to invite you back to speak again in the future.
Mr Richard Elson, Downside
Great talk, good as he came from a similar background as most of us and actually went through all these drug and alcohol addictions. Shows us that it can happen to anyone of us, as it was not someone who came from a poor background. Diverse as was not just some lecturer who has never experienced these issues first hand.
Pupil, Wellington
Your talk, as ever, was inspiring and really got through to the students who have been talking about it non-stop since Wednesday. Staff who attended who hadn't seen you before have all spoken of being totally engrossed in your talk.
Kate Jarvis, RGS Newcastle
I am a mother of a thirteen year old who attended your talk at Downe House recently.
I was fascinated, enlightened and touched by your story.
Parent, Downe House
Thank you so much for coming in to talk to our Year 10 girls – the feedback from them so far has been excellent. I know a number of them were upset at the end due to the emotional content and your honesty.
Annie O'Neil, Woldingham
It was a great talk. I definitely learnt a lot from his talk and it has changed my views on drugs and alcohol drastically. He was very good and inspirational, he has actually motivated me to do some things that I probably won't have thought of doing. Its crazy how just a single talk with a man I've never met before touched me and changed my views on most things.
Pupil, Woldingham
(The pupil) rarely tells me any details about talks or visitors but she said this was the best talk she'd ever been to at Holmwood. When I asked her what had she learnt, she said how much damage drugs can do to your life as the children were all obviously really touched by his story.
Helen Mitchel, Holmwood House
When I left the auditorium, I really felt like I needed to tell someone about what I had heard, about your life and your admirable story, so I called Mum. She said that she had listened to you speak at St Marys before at a parents thing and she remembered everything. You had a sincere impact and effect on her and me.
Pupil, St Mary's Ascot
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Tanya Moran, The Harrodian School
Once again, thanks for a great talk on Friday - it was as captivating, interesting and relaxed as ever.
Liz Poole, Whitgift School
The positive responses I've received from both staff and pupils have been overwhelming.
Elaine Logan, Loretto School
The pupils clearly enjoyed your talk and I am looking forward to asking you to speak to us again next year.
Hilary Dugdale, Lancing College
Very many thanks for today, Peter; the boys were genuinely moved by what you said as was evinced by their questions and the warmth of their applause and response to you; I can tell instinctively when they connect with a speaker and they did today.
Andrew Grimshaw, Bedford School
The kids loved the talk, they were absolutely fascinated and managed to take up most of my English lesson discussing it!
Kate Gilbertson, Berkhampstead School
We received some very enthusiastic reviews from pupils and other staff following your talk on Monday so thank you again for coming to speak to us.
Amanda Leaman, Rugby School
Thanks again for coming. I just had a follow up discussion with a group of Year 9 boys and the presentations have gained exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
Stuart Turner, Merchant Taylor's
I am a pupil from Oundle school, to where you gave us your life story about drugs and how it changed your life. I found your talk very moving and it even reduced me to tears, which is why I have chosen to e-mail you to thank you, as in person would have just choked me up. My whole year have now found a new view to drugs entirely so it really did work and I thank you for that.
Pupil, Oundle School
This was single-handedly the best lecture I have ever attended. If the speaker is still there could you pass this on. It was entertaining, hard hitting and very relevant.
Pupil, Wellington College
I invited the Sixth Form to leave feedback on your lecture and thought you might be interested. This is the best response so far this academic year, so congratulations.
David Boatman, Framlingham College
The feedback from both staff and students was very good. I wish you all the best and hopefully you would consider coming to speak to next year's students.
Victoria Griffiths, Taunton School International
Thank you so much again for your talk, yesterday. The pupils were captivated and, after you'd gone, had said it's the best talk they'd had this year!.... I too felt I'd been on quite an emotional journey after listening to you. I am sure we'll be in touch for future years.
Louise Pugsley, West Buckland School
Many thanks for your excellent presentation yesterday afternoon. Our students were very struck by its honesty and authenticity and I know that it will have given them a great deal to think about. I do hope that you will come back and talk to us again next year.
Anne Lynch, Worth School
Just wanted to pass on the excellent feedback I have had from both colleagues and the girls re. your talk last week. One of the girls said that you were the most moving speaker she had ever heard. Thank you for 'baring your soul'. Keep up the good work.
Joy Bannister, Old Palace of John Whitgift School
Thank you again for coming to speak to the pupils on Monday. We have received a lot of positive feedback and I know that the pupils have been talking, among themselves as well as with adults, about many of the issues that you raised.I will certainly be in touch again in due course as we review the PSHE programme for next year.
Amanda Leamon, Rugby School
Your comprehensive presentation and the informed, professional yet informal manner in which you delivered your subject content was hugely appreciated by the pupils. I am extremely grateful to you for all the effort you put in.
Lady Kate Cayley, Marlborough College
His approach was spot on and he delivered exactly the message we were hoping for without lecturing them or telling them what to do.
Sheena Bartlett, Worth Abbey
Just a line to let you know that Peter Hall was absolutely fantastic today - a number of boys gave me extremely positive feedback about the talk.
Liz Poole, Whitgift School0
I have had nothing but a positive reaction from all I have spoken to... they found your talk really gripping...
Mr McIvor, Norwich School
Once again many thanks for your talks this week. Very well received and thought provoking as usual.
Russell Dudley-Smith, Westminster0
Suffice to say that you went down very well here in Sedbergh and my thanks again for making the long trip north.
Philip Hoskins, Sedbergh
Just to say we had Peter Hall this morning, and he was fantastic. Great feedback from the students, not often you get a cynical 18 year old saying "inspirational".
Mark Benfield, Wolverhampton Grammar School
Peter was absolutely excellent! I have had very positive feedback from the students - they say he is the best that they have ever had - praise indeed!
Mary Mason, Taunton School
Very many thanks for coming. The feedback I have had from boys has been only positive - this is most unusual!
Paul Ryan, Sherborne
The talk generated more questions than any other speakers to date and as I guided him across the playground to the staff room for a much deserved cup of coffee, he was again waylaid by the audience keen to pursue a point or put forward another query.
Liz Allen-Back, The King's School, Worcester
What struck us was how you said that you yourself had had talks about drugs when you were our age and how you always used to think that "it would never happen to you", a very common saying.
Pupils, Pangbourne College
To combine factual information, real life, tragedy and humour within a talk is a real challenge; to have achieved that and engaged so readily with the audience was a real feat. It has provided our boys with real insight into the issues and I have had a succession of boys and staff commenting on how powerful, emotive and thought-provoking the talk was. I am sure it will continue to stay in their minds in the future.
Mr J W Pressley, Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Lots of the pupils told me how interested they were in the Assembly and "Why can't we have more like that?". Perhaps sewing the seeds for a life changing memories later in life for some.
Edrys Barkham, Bryanston