Jonathon Bowden and John Voisey

"So are you going to the meeting?".  That was the start of the conversation between myself and the West Wales Organiser, Roger Phillips on Wednesday morning at around 6.00 am - we are both early risers.

I replied in the negative, saying I did not particularly enjoy large meetings and much preferred meetings where there would be plans of action being laid and seeing as there would be so many people there, my absence would not be noticed.

Back came Roger with; "There are going to be lots of speeches".  Arrhh.  I could have screamed.  I am not a lover of speeches telling me the same horror stories that I have heard so many times over the last 30 years and said so.

"Jonathan Bowden will be speaking" replied Roger.

"Another reason for not attending" was my riposte.

Did I hear a collective gasp?  Jonathan is in fact an excellent speaker but I was trying to put over to Roger that I really just did not feel up to a long drive, a long formal meeting with long speeches. I would have said the same if he had informed me that the Chairman himself would be there.  I just did not want to go to a meeting.

But Roger, who is skilled in the art of Sales and Marketing knew his target audience.

"You cant let the Gwent Boys down".   That was it.  Job done.  I was going to the meeting.

I will leave out the story about being delayed en route by some crazy ethnic closing down a section of the M4 by threatening to jump off one of the bridges.  Looking at the huge tailbacks, convoys of police vehicles, ambulances and fire brigade vehicles made me think just one word.  Jump.

Finally arrived at the meeting, which had been organised by the Gwent Organiser, Anthony King.  Some of you might have read of me referring to him as Aramis in other articles.  He is one of the notorious Three Musketeers who also doubles up as the Welsh BNPtv cameraman and really is a super activist.

Well Anthony had done us proud.  It was a superb venue in a large coaching house type pub that was warm, cosy with friendly welcoming staff.  However despite the size of the large function room, it was only just large enough to squeeze all who attended the meeting in, with people including myself being forced to stand.

Brian Mahoney, the Welsh Regional Organiser kicked the meeting off by introducing the first speaker.  Now OK, I know some of you with sharper memories will be recalling the start of the article where I implied I did not enjoy speeches and strictly speaking that is true.  But if I am going to have to listen to a speech, I do not shut my mind of.  I really listen and watch the speaker.  You can learn a lot that way about a man by how he conducts himself by speaking publicly.

Well the first speaker was Dave Turner from Cardiff BNP and this being his first time up, he informed us of the reasons why he had joined the British Resistance known as the BNP.  I thought he done rather well for himself.  His voice was clear and he was not frightened of eye contact.  The Party has a useful man there.

Second speaker up was my old friend and professional colleague, John Voisey.  John immediately upped the stakes in the speaking game with a superb Powerpoint Presentation on why he had not only joined the Party but the reasons why he was also standing as a candidate in the coming general elections.  Facts and Figures everywhere.  I tell you this.  John R. Voisey will make a fine government minister one day.

Next up, another one of the Three Musketeers and another "super activist", Roger Phillips, who also used Powerpoint to hammer home some superb points on being an activist.

Now over on the main site, which has a rather watered down report on this meeting, they rightly report that two guests at the meeting signed up as new members on the night.  What the main site does not say,  is that the new members were motivated to attending the meeting  as a result of chatting to Roger on Facebook.

I can tell you this guys.  Roger spends an enormous amount of time cultivating possible members and usually manages to deliver 4 or 5 new members a week to the Party across Our Country.  Roger you promised me an article on Facebook recruitment.  Deliver please.  Dont let the Green Arrow down:)

Break time then and by the looks of it, it truly was an excellent buffet.  Myself, I am one of those people who when they go to a pub go to drink.  When I die, do not expect food at my funeral - just beer.  Warm beer at that.

A quick cigarette and 15 minutes flirting with the landlady and it was time to go listen to the main speaker.

Now Jonathan Bowden reminds me of a shorter version of "Mild mannered Clark Kent" who wears a rune stone around his kneck - until he starts to speak and then he is Superman or rather a super speaker. 

Now sometimes Jonathan can come across as a cross between a Dalek and a unitary matrix of the Borg and this goes down well with the younger pups in the party.  Watching them watching and listening to Jonathan was well worth the long drive to the meeting and in all fairness Jonathan was on fine form.  You could have heard a pin drop - he was magnificent.

I am fairly sure that had those young pups been females they would have been ripping off their underwear and throwing their knickers onto the stage and demanding to have Jonathan's babies.  Like I said he is great speaker but being older I decided to hold on to my Y-fronts.

Raffle, collection.  Meeting closed.  A quick shake of the hand with my good friend and favourite rebel Lawrence.  A pat on the big back of Bridgend Organiser Adam Lloyd and his security team and I am heading for home having thoroughly enjoyed myself.  You know I could get to like going to meetings.