Robbie Glen has a dry Scottish wit, timing and an ability to read an audience which makes him one of the finest UK after dinner speakers you're ever likely to hear. He has a rare gift for making people laugh and is a great favourite on the after dinner circuit.
Robbie has spoken at many prestigious functions incuding Variety Club Tribute Dinners for Lord Richard Attenborough, Jimmy Logan and Alistair McCoist and a Lord's Taverners Tribute Lunch for Sir Harry Decombe. He has twice entertained at Variety Club Golfing Society Annual Dinners in London.
His versatility has seen him speak at business lunches in the Eiffel Tower and in Vancouver, at a St Andrew's Day Ball in Singapore, at Burns Suppers in Cairo, Calgary and Edmonton and at conference dinners in a bierkeller in Frankfurt and a wine cellar in Lison. He has been asked to address many ladies only functions as he is seen as a safe pair of hands.
Sired by an Ayrshire man out of a Renfrewshire lady, Robbie was reared in Lanarkshire. He was educated at Hamilton Academy and Strathclyde University. He taught for one year in Blantyre before joining the Prison Service as an Assistant Governor in 1969.
Robbie, a Fellow of the Institute of Management, was Governor of Castle Huntly Young Offenders Institution - Dungavel Prison where he was Deputy and Acting Governor - along with Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow. He had the pleasure of being Governor of Cornton Vale, which is Scotland's only female establishment. He finally retired from the Scottish Prison Service on 4th September 1996. Since his early retirement Robbie has gone on to make his mark as one of the UKs most popular and witty speakers, producing rave reviews from his varied list of clients. His motivational skills are called upon to set the tone for numerous conferences whilst his great sense of humour, funny stories and quick wit make for the most positive of outcomes.
William Mcllvaney based his story The Prisoner in his book of short stories entitled The Walking Wounded on him after he visited Robbie at Dungavel.
In his youth he played junior football professionally but his career was cut short tragically at an early age due to lack of ability. He still holds the Lanarkshire Schoolboy 440 yards record, because it's now gone metric!
Robbie is married with two daughters, the younger of whom is profoundly handicapped. Robbie developed a walking aid for her with his staff and prisoners in 1981 and it is now being used in 41 hospitals and schools in Scotland to teach handicapped children how to walk.
Robbie Glen had them rolling in the aisles. This man should carry a government health warning he is seriously funny... Sunday Times
When I think of the evening, my mind overflows with colourful images the tour de force was the laugh-buster speech given by Governor R .R. H Glen. unforgettable - Pik Botha, South African Minister.
THE SUNDAY HERALD Wrote:- "Robbie Glen ..... had the investment trust brigade rolling in the aisles at the Association of Investment Trust Compnaies' Scottish Dinner last Thursday. .... Glen's jokes came so thick and fast that AITC director-general Daniel Godfrey was at one stage concerened his outgoing chairman Alex Hammond-Chambers might be 'at risk of dying from oxygen starvation'."
The ARRAN BANNER wrote:- "Who would have guessed that a career as a prison governor could provide the theme for so much wisdom and so many hilarious stories along the way? His talk was nothing less than brilliant and Rotarians could have listened to him for hours if they could have coped with the exhaustion of so much laughter."
The CAITHNESS BUSINESS INDEX stated:- "As well as a three course dinner and delicious drams of Old Pulteney, guests enjoyed a hilarious performance by Robbie Glen, Scotland's leading after dinner speaker."
IAN BUCHAN in the EVENING TIMES wrote-
.......... Robbie Glen is one of the finest after-dinner speakers you're likely to hear.
BRIAN MEEK from the GLASGOW HERALD wrote -
Speak to Ayr Guildry , a fine bunch of men. Robbie Glen , the deputy governor of Barlinnie , brings the house down I quietly take a note of the best ones .
COCKBURN'S Diary in the Sunday Times wrote-
Robbie Glen ......... had them rolling in the aisles . This man should carry a government health warning he is seriously funny.
THE BUTEMAN wrote -
............... entertained by a comic talent to match any of the Winter Garden's ghosts. ......... he (Robbie Glen) is a member of the Variety Club of Great Britain due to his work on behalf of handicapped children. His gift for making people laugh is surely entry qualification alone for that worthy organisation.
THE BUSINESS DIARY of THE HERALD wrote -
Robbie Glen ............ had the 1000 guests of West of Scotlands branch of the Institute of Petroleum's annual dinner rolling in the aisles earlier this week.
MARIAN PALLISTER in the EVENING TIMES wrote-
But there is more to Robbie Glen than his profession. There is the very public wit, whose after-dinner speeches have them chewing on their napkins to hold back the guffaws. Then there is the private caring father who is devoted to giving the very best quality of life to his daughters, Avril and Katy.
JOHN GIBSON of the EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS wrote-
But is it really good for the digestion doubling up so heartily on a full stomach? .... Yes, Robbie Glens address went down a storm.
TERRY WOGAN in the WOMANS WEEKLY wrote -
I well remember as President of Lords Taverners learning the hard way, that if there was ever a Scottish prison governor on the list of speakers, I should speak first.
Find out how to book Robbie Glen as the after dinner speaker for your next event by calling SpeakOut! on 020 8914 8966 or clicking the button below.