David Bell is a hugely entertaining and refreshingly different guest speaker recommended by hundreds of clubs & societies across the UK. He will not only surprise you but will also make you think; and certainly make you smile.
A proud born & bred Geordie, David retired to the delightful little Peak District village of Eyam some years ago. He was confident that the village's famous plague heritage would be nothing other than a passing distraction. David Bell could not have been more wrong. Tens of thousands of tourists flock to Eyam annually to see for themselves where a brave disease driven lockdown was played out with such tragic consequences. But don't expect too much doom and gloom from this compellng speaker.
David's tongue-in-cheek take on staying fit and well and avoiding disease 350 years ago will convince you that, even in these troubled times, we all have a lot to be thankful for.
In the 1600s the odds were stacked against most people when it came to surviving the plague. There was no 'science', 'flattening the curve' or lowering the 'R number'. It was a case of 'que sera sera' and getting on with life . . . . getting on with the mundane, irritating ailments of the day such as water infections, bladder-stones, itching haemorrhoids and acute constipation !
So, brace yourself - clench your buttocks - and see how a 17th century doctor coped !
"After four decades as a straight-laced civil servant I never imagined," said David, "that I would now be 'hamming it up' with a life-sized inflatable dummy as my side-kick."
"Looking back at early healthcare, it's hardly surprising that patients then were as likely to die from the prescribed cure than their actual illness." added David.
“Despite all we are going through laughter is still the best medicine" commented Janet Staine of The Crosspool Ladies Group in Sheffield. "David Bell came to entertain our members and immediately won us over. He had us all in fits of giggles throughout his 60 minute session. David is thoroughly engaging with an uncanny knack of being able to draw you in with his wonderful storytelling. Whenever he is in your area just go and see him for yourself; he really does spin a fabulous tale - with a surprising ending - and you will feel all the better for it "
STOP PRESS . . . 21 October 2021
"The Plague Doctor was simply the best. 10 out of 10" Brackley U3A Northants
STOP PRESS . . . 14 October 2021
"What a hidden gem David Bell is. A fabulous guest speaker" Mawdesley U3A Lancashire
STOP PRESS . . . 26 Aug 2021
"Our first open meeting since the end of lockdown. Great choice of speaker;
probably the best we have had since we first began almost 10 years ago."
Teesdale U3A Barnard Castle
"Thank you so much for your fantastic talk last night. For a moment I wondered if we might be
in trouble when your blow-up doll appeared ! But goodness me - rave reviews are still coming in !!!"
City of Plymouth WI
"We all thought that your refreshingly entertaining talk transferred seamlessly to Zoom. Congratulations"
"More than 150 of our club members 'tuned in' on their laptops and IPads at home"
North Notts Friends of the National Trust
A mid-week full house says it all
Hilton Hotel, Sheffield
Buttock clenchingly brilliant.!!
'Luvly Lasses' of Halifax
We didn't expect that!
Winding Wheel, Chesterfield.
An hour of sheer joy
Trent Lock Country Club Notts.
It was great to see our member's happy faces as they left the hall.
Rutland U3A Leicestershire
What a great night.
Misson WI South Yorkshire
A resounding success
Oundle U3A Peterborough
A giggle filled hour.
Regent Hotel Doncaster
10 out of 10
Thrapston U3A Northampton
Thought provoking, so amusing . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friends of the National Trust Leicestershire
His bedside manners were impeccable !! . . . . . . . The 'Just Jam' Ladies Society Stoke on Trent
Wonderfully different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fulford Golf Club York
Very funny and original . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . World Heritage Centre, Cromford Mill, Derbyshire
Outstanding storytelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friends of The National Trust Staffordshire
Wonderful tonic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodhall Spa U3a Lincolnshire
A raconteur par excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Todmorden U3A West Yorkhire
Came highly recommended & didn't disappoint . . Northampton U3A
The best speaker we have hired . . . . . . . . . . . . Poynton Probus Greater Manchester
Engaging, compelling, superb timing . . . . . . . . . . The Salvation Army Leicester
Made us smile and made our day . . . . . . . . . . . Masonic Annual Lunch Nottinghamshire
Laugh a minute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abbeydale Ladies Golf Society Sheffield
A one-man-show rather than a talk. Fantastic . . . East Midlands History Group
Brilliant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manor Lodge Sheffield
. . . . . . and many more
Doreen Edwards & Bev Brooke, both travelled
from Australia to the UK especially for their
International Trefoil Convention . . . .
"It was well worth it for so many reasons,
not least the after-dinner entertainment.
The Plague Doctor had us all in stitches.
Outstanding"
Standard talk fee from £75.00 + return mileage supplement @ 45p per mile
ZOOM talks available from only £50.00
telephone : 01433 639392 email : bell.eyam@sky.com
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