Delivering a speech at any event, whether it be business or a social occasion can be fraught with difficulties.

Even the most confident and experienced of speech makers can get it horribly wrong at times, either by misjudging the audience, the material or even the tone in which it is delivered.

And of course it is far easier to recognise a bad speech than deliver a good one.

All of which makes professional speech writer David Block a busy man.

Having worked as a journalist, script writer and author, he has an unquestioned ability with words and many years of working with businesses as well as the personalities they employ to deliver speeches mean he has the experience to ensure that all-important keynote address goes well.

He said: "The first point to remember is that however big the reputation of the speech maker involved, they will always be sensitive to putting across the right impression.

"Often the person is surprisingly nervous, so you have got to know them particularly well to identify their strengths and weaknesses, their sense of humour. You have to empathise.

"All of this is essential to producing a speech. I have a lot of responsibility ensuring that person does not strike any false notes.

"These days you can go on the Internet and download anything you want for a speech but you need understanding of people and integrity has to be at the forefront."

Techniques such as being able to deal with hecklers are also useful and Mr Block's research will ensure sources of material such as school days, careers and other important aspects of people's lives are well researched while he will bring out the humour of a situaton that may not have been identified.

He will even look at a person's handwriting for an insight into their personality as he learned the techniques of graphology years ago.

Mr Block will also advise on how long the speech should be as again he believes people have little idea of what is appropriate and of course there is nothing worse than a long-winded diatribe or a few stuttering words at a significant moment.

Mr Block got married last month (to Alice) and wrote his own speech timed at two minutes. "What I had to say was really from the heart which is not characteristic of the British. That is often why people come to me as they don't know which words to use and don't want to embarrass themselves.

"A lot of it is not what you say but how you deliver it. If it is genuine, then it will come across well."

Mr Block, who is based at Sandford, started out in public relations for the entertainment business with clients including 1960s icons such as Simon Dee.

By the 1970s he had moved into television and set up his own production company. A major client was Ed "Stewpot" Stewart — still a personal friend — and the pair did a series for London Weekend Television.

Then, at Thames Television, Mr Block worked on travel programme Wish You Were Here? working as a journalist and researcher as well as a script writer for the show fronted by Judith Chalmers.

And in the interim periods he worked on other scripts including comedy on shows such as The Goodies.

But he soon realised that a far more lucrative business lay with the commercial side of writing for speeches, conferences and presentations.

Often big names would be employed and Mr Block would write their speeches, tailoring them the theme of the conference or event, to ensure the material was appropriate for the audience.

Again he supplmented his work with freelance journalism, writing the A Life in the Day Of ... and Relative Values columns for the Sunday Times magazine, a practise he continues to this day with contributions to the Washington Times.

The Internet has also helped his work enormously as it means does not have to travel to meet clients so much, but can till work with them effectively.

He has worked with a galaxy of stars including Melvyn Bragg, Jeremy Paxman, Graham Norton, Jonathan Ross and Richard Wilson.

Having spent a career in writing and entertainment generally, Mr Block has no plans to retire. At 71, he could pass for ten years younger and can't see any reason for stopping work.

"This is what I do. I have had a fabulous life, travelling all over the world and there are still new opportunities — at the moment I am writing a website.

I see what happens to people when they stop work. I need stimulation and a bit of stress to keep me motivated."

Another influence in Mr Block's life is that he is a practising Buddhist, the principles of which he carries into his work.

"It is an attitude to life which involves creating value in other people's lives."

Many a famous name would testify that he has helped them achieve just that.