John Locke
An Englishman Abroad
"We are born, then we die. Let's have a laugh in between."
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
John Locke
An Englishman Abroad
1095 Arapaho Ave
Worthington Ohio 43085
Phone: 614 846 9049
http://www.AnEnglishmanAbroad.com
John@AnEnglishmanAbroad.com

Local Professional Speaker Wins Trudy Knox Award.

Worthington, Ohio—May 28 2008 – At the National Speakers Association Ohio May seminar, professional speaker John Locke of Worthington Ohio was awarded the Trudy Knox award for Vision and Pioneering Spirit. The award was presented to Locke by NSA Ohio President Janine Moon following his work on encouraging NSA Ohio members to be more active in the area of Meeting Planner / NSA Ohio development.

Locke who is known as An Englishman Abroad started his speaking career in the late sixties as a training instructor for the Midlands Electricity Board in England. He continued to speak as his career advanced and following his move to the United States of America eight years ago he started his speaking business here in Ohio. He has spoken at conferences as far away as Los Angeles and points in between and is known for his sense of humor, sharp wit and energy, his presentations always involve audience participation.

“My flabber was gasted.” said Locke following the award. “I never in my wildest dreams thought I would receive an award. I just did as I was asked.”

Locke, who is a professional member of both National Speakers Association Ohio chapter and National Speakers Association, is looking forward to doing more work for the chapter following his election to the Board of NSA Ohio.
 

 
  JOHN LOCKE, 64, FOLK MUSICIAN (August 26th, Columbus Dispatch)

When asked his age, Locke said: "Oh, I'm ancient. I'm 64, but in my head I'm 18." The multi-instrumentalist, professional speaker and horticulturist who bills himself as an "Englishman abroad" has served as president of the Columbus Folk Music Society since last year. He plays guitar and harmonica, and "is known to get a tune out of a banjo and a pennywhistle," he said A native of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, England, Locke came to folk music "purely by accident." A friend suggested they go to a folk club on a New Year's Eve. His response: "What on earth is a folk club, and why would I go there?" Still, he recalled, "After about 30 minutes I'm thinking, 'This is good stuff.' Before you know it, I've bought a guitar." Before moving to central Ohio with his wife, a native, Locke managed folk clubs in England and Wales, and hosted various concerts and festivals. Folk music, he said, has always fed his primary interests of history, geography and storytelling -- especially humorous storytelling. His vision and experience, said Nancy Cline Bailey, a former society president, gives the organization a "cultural authenticity." Plus, she said, "He's just a really genuinely nice guy."