[Music] the distance from my old office of
the distance from my old office of
the distance from my old office of Director of services to the new office
Director of services to the new office
Director of services to the new office of the CEO was just five paces away but
of the CEO was just five paces away but
of the CEO was just five paces away but it felt like a dark ocean existed
it felt like a dark ocean existed
it felt like a dark ocean existed between me and the office behind the
between me and the office behind the
between me and the office behind the glass window and looming large in the
glass window and looming large in the
glass window and looming large in the window was a big black chair sitting
window was a big black chair sitting
window was a big black chair sitting there waiting for its new owner
there waiting for its new owner
there waiting for its new owner expectant and I couldn’t get it out of
expectant and I couldn’t get it out of
expectant and I couldn’t get it out of my head that it looked like an
my head that it looked like an
my head that it looked like an executioner’s chair I didn’t want to sit
executioner’s chair I didn’t want to sit
executioner’s chair I didn’t want to sit in there and I didn’t have a boat to get
in there and I didn’t have a boat to get
in there and I didn’t have a boat to get me across the ocean I was being offered
me across the ocean I was being offered
me across the ocean I was being offered the chance to lead the national charity
the chance to lead the national charity
the chance to lead the national charity missing people a charity that I loved
missing people a charity that I loved
missing people a charity that I loved and was really close to my heart
and was really close to my heart
and was really close to my heart and with 10 years experience as a
and with 10 years experience as a
and with 10 years experience as a Samaritan with an open university degree
Samaritan with an open university degree
Samaritan with an open university degree with years of leading the national
with years of leading the national
with years of leading the national services of missing people and working
services of missing people and working
services of missing people and working on myself as a lifelong self-improvement
on myself as a lifelong self-improvement
on myself as a lifelong self-improvement project I quietly turned it down why
project I quietly turned it down why
project I quietly turned it down why well it was too soon I told myself it
well it was too soon I told myself it
well it was too soon I told myself it was too soon I decided it was too soon
was too soon I decided it was too soon
was too soon I decided it was too soon those sort of opportunities don’t come
those sort of opportunities don’t come
those sort of opportunities don’t come across very often and they’re very hard
across very often and they’re very hard
across very often and they’re very hard to come from and imagine being in that
to come from and imagine being in that
to come from and imagine being in that situation you might have thought that I
situation you might have thought that I
situation you might have thought that I would have learned the opportunities
would have learned the opportunities
would have learned the opportunities about seizing those big moments I was a
about seizing those big moments I was a
about seizing those big moments I was a piano player in a band writing songs in
piano player in a band writing songs in
piano player in a band writing songs in a music class in whole was Sherrill the
a music class in whole was Sherrill the
a music class in whole was Sherrill the singer the edgy one who pushed like mad
singer the edgy one who pushed like mad
singer the edgy one who pushed like mad for us to record our first song I of
for us to record our first song I of
for us to record our first song I of course wanted to wait I wanted to write
course wanted to wait I wanted to write
course wanted to wait I wanted to write a better song I wanted to perfect the
a better song I wanted to perfect the
a better song I wanted to perfect the song but we went and we recorded it
song but we went and we recorded it
song but we went and we recorded it anyway and then we moved to London
anyway and then we moved to London
anyway and then we moved to London and with a small bunch of songs written
and with a small bunch of songs written
and with a small bunch of songs written we’ve dared ourselves to make
we’ve dared ourselves to make
we’ve dared ourselves to make appointments with senior people in
appointments with senior people in
appointments with senior people in record companies and publishing
record companies and publishing
record companies and publishing companies and then we’ve dragged the
companies and then we’ve dragged the
companies and then we’ve dragged the piano keyboard and it was big halfway
piano keyboard and it was big halfway
piano keyboard and it was big halfway across London on the tube we plugged it
across London on the tube we plugged it
across London on the tube we plugged it in an offices and we nervously played
in an offices and we nervously played
in an offices and we nervously played our hearts out
our hearts out
our hearts out and one day someone took a chance on us
and one day someone took a chance on us
and one day someone took a chance on us and then we wrote a hit song and all
and then we wrote a hit song and all
and then we wrote a hit song and all felt it from the heart song that soared
felt it from the heart song that soared
felt it from the heart song that soared and roared we recorded two albums we did
and roared we recorded two albums we did
and roared we recorded two albums we did two major tours we played the whole city
two major tours we played the whole city
two major tours we played the whole city hall gig in my hometown Wembley Top of
hall gig in my hometown Wembley Top of
hall gig in my hometown Wembley Top of the Pops and in case you thought I’d
the Pops and in case you thought I’d
the Pops and in case you thought I’d learned about not waiting for the
learned about not waiting for the
learned about not waiting for the perfect moment well I hadn’t because
perfect moment well I hadn’t because
perfect moment well I hadn’t because there in my mind
there in my mind
there in my mind all along was the thought that one day
all along was the thought that one day
all along was the thought that one day I’d be found out how many opportunities
I’d be found out how many opportunities
I’d be found out how many opportunities big and small do we fly away from how
big and small do we fly away from how
big and small do we fly away from how many times could we open a door and with
many times could we open a door and with
many times could we open a door and with no one there to push us we just quietly
no one there to push us we just quietly
no one there to push us we just quietly closed it in front of us we give way to
closed it in front of us we give way to
closed it in front of us we give way to people we think are the great and the
people we think are the great and the
people we think are the great and the good and sometimes we give way to people
good and sometimes we give way to people
good and sometimes we give way to people who aren’t so great and aren’t so good
who aren’t so great and aren’t so good
who aren’t so great and aren’t so good we give way to people who bound along
we give way to people who bound along
we give way to people who bound along with a belief in their own ability that
with a belief in their own ability that
with a belief in their own ability that takes your breath away
takes your breath away
takes your breath away they stand tall they cast a long and
they stand tall they cast a long and
they stand tall they cast a long and impressive shadow and some of us just
impressive shadow and some of us just
impressive shadow and some of us just stand in it we could wait a long time
stand in it we could wait a long time
stand in it we could wait a long time for the perfect day to come along we can
for the perfect day to come along we can
for the perfect day to come along we can wait until we’re old enough and wise
wait until we’re old enough and wise
wait until we’re old enough and wise enough bold enough and good enough we
enough bold enough and good enough we
enough bold enough and good enough we can wait for a wash of self-confidence
can wait for a wash of self-confidence
can wait for a wash of self-confidence that will banish every self-doubt we
that will banish every self-doubt we
that will banish every self-doubt we ever had or we can stand there and take
ever had or we can stand there and take
ever had or we can stand there and take our place in the queue and just never
our place in the queue and just never
our place in the queue and just never quite get to the front you know my
quite get to the front you know my
quite get to the front you know my grandad missed a moment
grandad missed a moment
grandad missed a moment and that miss momen lasted a lifetime
and that miss momen lasted a lifetime
and that miss momen lasted a lifetime he was an unlikely scholar he was born
he was an unlikely scholar he was born
he was an unlikely scholar he was born in a slum in Sheffield and he went to
in a slum in Sheffield and he went to
in a slum in Sheffield and he went to school with no shoes and he left school
school with no shoes and he left school
school with no shoes and he left school when he was 14 and he became a kind of
when he was 14 and he became a kind of
when he was 14 and he became a kind of ships engineer I can imagine him now
ships engineer I can imagine him now
ships engineer I can imagine him now sitting there in his tiny front bedroom
sitting there in his tiny front bedroom
sitting there in his tiny front bedroom of his council house on the shire garena
of his council house on the shire garena
of his council house on the shire garena state surrounded by a library of books
state surrounded by a library of books
state surrounded by a library of books he taught Bible classes and he began
he taught Bible classes and he began
he taught Bible classes and he began reading to understand
reading to understand
reading to understand he learned economics by post and he had
he learned economics by post and he had
he learned economics by post and he had grand ideas of pensions for factory
grand ideas of pensions for factory
grand ideas of pensions for factory workers imagine that and one day he was
workers imagine that and one day he was
workers imagine that and one day he was offered the opportunity to go to Ruskin
offered the opportunity to go to Ruskin
offered the opportunity to go to Ruskin College Oxford University for he was
College Oxford University for he was
College Oxford University for he was someone who could speak he was someone
someone who could speak he was someone
someone who could speak he was someone with ideas sponsored by his trade union
with ideas sponsored by his trade union
with ideas sponsored by his trade union of future MP perhaps and there he was
of future MP perhaps and there he was
of future MP perhaps and there he was tucked up in social economic and
tucked up in social economic and
tucked up in social economic and aspirational deprivation and it was just
aspirational deprivation and it was just
aspirational deprivation and it was just that world that needed him and he turned
that world that needed him and he turned
that world that needed him and he turned it down not enough money not to work to
it down not enough money not to work to
it down not enough money not to work to study and not enough self belief to go
study and not enough self belief to go
study and not enough self belief to go and really that was it perhaps he
and really that was it perhaps he
and really that was it perhaps he thought his time was to come with kids
thought his time was to come with kids
thought his time was to come with kids or grown up with more money with more
or grown up with more money with more
or grown up with more money with more confidence that he would get his second
confidence that he would get his second
confidence that he would get his second chance that there would be a knock at
chance that there would be a knock at
chance that there would be a knock at the door and it wouldn’t be Harry from
the door and it wouldn’t be Harry from
the door and it wouldn’t be Harry from next door in his best ask him to borrow
next door in his best ask him to borrow
next door in his best ask him to borrow a cup of sugar it would be his chance to
a cup of sugar it would be his chance to
a cup of sugar it would be his chance to change the world for the better but the
change the world for the better but the
change the world for the better but the second knock at the door never came
second knock at the door never came
second knock at the door never came I always felt sad his papers his unread
I always felt sad his papers his unread
I always felt sad his papers his unread words his lost words his ideas unheard
words his lost words his ideas unheard
words his lost words his ideas unheard and I think he had insight too I think
and I think he had insight too I think
and I think he had insight too I think he knew that starting at the bottom of
he knew that starting at the bottom of
he knew that starting at the bottom of the ladder meant that he
the ladder meant that he
the ladder meant that he took his equal share in the world me and
took his equal share in the world me and
took his equal share in the world me and my granddad used to write to each other
my granddad used to write to each other
my granddad used to write to each other and in one of his letters to me he said
and in one of his letters to me he said
and in one of his letters to me he said my dear is Joanne one of my biggest
my dear is Joanne one of my biggest
my dear is Joanne one of my biggest regrets in life is I didn’t have a good
regrets in life is I didn’t have a good
regrets in life is I didn’t have a good standard of education for a good
standard of education for a good
standard of education for a good education opens doors and gives you
education opens doors and gives you
education opens doors and gives you self-confidence and he said he was
self-confidence and he said he was
self-confidence and he said he was really thrilled because somebody had
really thrilled because somebody had
really thrilled because somebody had described him as a good scholar and that
described him as a good scholar and that
described him as a good scholar and that it made him feel six feet tall which
it made him feel six feet tall which
it made him feel six feet tall which given he was about five foot two and a
given he was about five foot two and a
given he was about five foot two and a peanut really is saying something where
peanut really is saying something where
peanut really is saying something where does the confidence come from how does
does the confidence come from how does
does the confidence come from how does some people find a voice and a platform
some people find a voice and a platform
some people find a voice and a platform and a set of ladders to get them there
and a set of ladders to get them there
and a set of ladders to get them there when only 7% of the population is
when only 7% of the population is
when only 7% of the population is privately educated then why are over 50%
privately educated then why are over 50%
privately educated then why are over 50% of print journalist privately educated
of print journalist privately educated
of print journalist privately educated and 30% of MPs and 50% of the cabinet
and 30% of MPs and 50% of the cabinet
and 30% of MPs and 50% of the cabinet it’s like there’s a confident secret
it’s like there’s a confident secret
it’s like there’s a confident secret people emboldened by a life that keeps
people emboldened by a life that keeps
people emboldened by a life that keeps on giving where doors keep on opening
on giving where doors keep on opening
on giving where doors keep on opening and they keep on expecting themselves to
and they keep on expecting themselves to
and they keep on expecting themselves to jolly well walk on through but it’s not
jolly well walk on through but it’s not
jolly well walk on through but it’s not all about the big career and the big
all about the big career and the big
all about the big career and the big stage either I will always remember
stage either I will always remember
stage either I will always remember being at a family funeral and there we
being at a family funeral and there we
being at a family funeral and there we were at the wake
were at the wake
were at the wake eating egg sandwiches and sausage rolls
eating egg sandwiches and sausage rolls
eating egg sandwiches and sausage rolls that nobody fancied and we were waiting
that nobody fancied and we were waiting
that nobody fancied and we were waiting we were waiting for someone to say a few
we were waiting for someone to say a few
we were waiting for someone to say a few words to say we’re really sad that she’s
words to say we’re really sad that she’s
words to say we’re really sad that she’s died because we really loved her and she
died because we really loved her and she
died because we really loved her and she would have been so chuffed that you were
would have been so chuffed that you were
would have been so chuffed that you were all here today so let’s raise a pint for
all here today so let’s raise a pint for
all here today so let’s raise a pint for her life but nobody did and it always
her life but nobody did and it always
her life but nobody did and it always stayed with me unspoken words
stayed with me unspoken words
stayed with me unspoken words unconfident and a missed moment to mark
unconfident and a missed moment to mark
unconfident and a missed moment to mark a life I guess there’s somebody here in
a life I guess there’s somebody here in
a life I guess there’s somebody here in the audience today with an ambition
the audience today with an ambition
the audience today with an ambition there’s someone here with a deeply held
there’s someone here with a deeply held
there’s someone here with a deeply held belief that you’ve never shared with
belief that you’ve never shared with
belief that you’ve never shared with anybody I bet there’s someone here with
anybody I bet there’s someone here with
anybody I bet there’s someone here with a small idea to change the world for a
a small idea to change the world for a
a small idea to change the world for a better for the better I bet there’s
better for the better I bet there’s
better for the better I bet there’s someone here with a solution to a
someone here with a solution to a
someone here with a solution to a problem you’d love to solve a speech or
problem you’d love to solve a speech or
problem you’d love to solve a speech or written in your head that you would love
written in your head that you would love
written in your head that you would love to make a job you’d like to do a song
to make a job you’d like to do a song
to make a job you’d like to do a song you’d like to sing something you want to
you’d like to sing something you want to
you’d like to sing something you want to say and you know we need thinkers of all
say and you know we need thinkers of all
say and you know we need thinkers of all styles of all kinds and of all
styles of all kinds and of all
styles of all kinds and of all backgrounds of all voices loud and small
backgrounds of all voices loud and small
backgrounds of all voices loud and small we need leaders and philosophers we need
we need leaders and philosophers we need
we need leaders and philosophers we need believers and dreamers we need hopers
believers and dreamers we need hopers
believers and dreamers we need hopers and carers of writers and talkers and
and carers of writers and talkers and
and carers of writers and talkers and singers and creators and someone who
singers and creators and someone who
singers and creators and someone who will say a special word or two on a
will say a special word or two on a
will say a special word or two on a special day you know I’m one of those
special day you know I’m one of those
special day you know I’m one of those people who could spend a lifetime
people who could spend a lifetime
people who could spend a lifetime preparing for a life to come waiting for
preparing for a life to come waiting for
preparing for a life to come waiting for a second knock at the door well I did
a second knock at the door well I did
a second knock at the door well I did get a second chance I was asked to cover
get a second chance I was asked to cover
get a second chance I was asked to cover the CEO role for a few months so I
the CEO role for a few months so I
the CEO role for a few months so I bought a new jacket a new pair of shiny
bought a new jacket a new pair of shiny
bought a new jacket a new pair of shiny shoes and I went for it and though the
shoes and I went for it and though the
shoes and I went for it and though the challenges were tough I put in the graft
challenges were tough I put in the graft
challenges were tough I put in the graft and I burnt the midnight oil and I rose
and I burnt the midnight oil and I rose
and I burnt the midnight oil and I rose to the moment and all along I had a very
to the moment and all along I had a very
to the moment and all along I had a very valuable thing I had a
valuable thing I had a
valuable thing I had a get-out-of-jail-free card I had a way
get-out-of-jail-free card I had a way
get-out-of-jail-free card I had a way out if it didn’t work out and when
out if it didn’t work out and when
out if it didn’t work out and when prospective candidates for the role went
prospective candidates for the role went
prospective candidates for the role went up to the mark and I was given the
up to the mark and I was given the
up to the mark and I was given the opportunity for the second time well
opportunity for the second time well
opportunity for the second time well this time I said yes for I had proved to
this time I said yes for I had proved to
this time I said yes for I had proved to myself that I could live up to the
myself that I could live up to the
myself that I could live up to the expectations of myself of the role and
expectations of myself of the role and
expectations of myself of the role and lead and be part of a charity to be
lead and be part of a charity to be
lead and be part of a charity to be proud of so in my strongest northern
proud of so in my strongest northern
proud of so in my strongest northern voice I dared myself to open the door to
voice I dared myself to open the door to
voice I dared myself to open the door to the office behind the glass window and
the office behind the glass window and
the office behind the glass window and there looked around and I spotted some
there looked around and I spotted some
there looked around and I spotted some new chairs that were more me so I tried
new chairs that were more me so I tried
new chairs that were more me so I tried to find someone to
to find someone to
to find someone to for permission and with the wind
for permission and with the wind
for permission and with the wind whistling around my ears I realized I
whistling around my ears I realized I
whistling around my ears I realized I didn’t have to ask the decision could be
didn’t have to ask the decision could be
didn’t have to ask the decision could be mine lonely and strangely liberating and
mine lonely and strangely liberating and
mine lonely and strangely liberating and from where I’m standing
from where I’m standing
from where I’m standing I’ve stumbled on a secret that some
I’ve stumbled on a secret that some
I’ve stumbled on a secret that some people don’t wait for the perfect moment
people don’t wait for the perfect moment
people don’t wait for the perfect moment some people don’t wait until they’ve
some people don’t wait until they’ve
some people don’t wait until they’ve written a better song some people don’t
written a better song some people don’t
written a better song some people don’t wait for all of their learning and
wait for all of their learning and
wait for all of their learning and skills and passion and brilliance to
skills and passion and brilliance to
skills and passion and brilliance to come together on one glorious day for
come together on one glorious day for
come together on one glorious day for the people who speak up and speak out
the people who speak up and speak out
the people who speak up and speak out who take their seat at the table
who take their seat at the table
who take their seat at the table who talk and share opinion and fill the
who talk and share opinion and fill the
who talk and share opinion and fill the air space and steal the limelight and
air space and steal the limelight and
air space and steal the limelight and capture our imaginations well they’re
capture our imaginations well they’re
capture our imaginations well they’re not really ready either doubting their
not really ready either doubting their
not really ready either doubting their ability and strength and nerve leaning
ability and strength and nerve leaning
ability and strength and nerve leaning on the people around them quietly
on the people around them quietly
on the people around them quietly putting in hours of practicing and
putting in hours of practicing and
putting in hours of practicing and learning hanging on by their fingertips
learning hanging on by their fingertips
learning hanging on by their fingertips and sometimes feeling oceans of space
and sometimes feeling oceans of space
and sometimes feeling oceans of space between them and the big moment so we
between them and the big moment so we
between them and the big moment so we can dare ourselves to just dare
can dare ourselves to just dare
can dare ourselves to just dare ourselves
ourselves
ourselves we can give ourselves a
we can give ourselves a
we can give ourselves a get-out-of-jail-free card we can take
get-out-of-jail-free card we can take
get-out-of-jail-free card we can take our equal share in the world and
our equal share in the world and
our equal share in the world and remember that the world needs an equal
remember that the world needs an equal
remember that the world needs an equal share of us too and that missing people
share of us too and that missing people
share of us too and that missing people we have a value it’s written on the
we have a value it’s written on the
we have a value it’s written on the walls and it’s written in our hearts to
walls and it’s written in our hearts to
walls and it’s written in our hearts to let fly so dare yourself if you hear a
let fly so dare yourself if you hear a
let fly so dare yourself if you hear a knock at the door we’ll open it and let
knock at the door we’ll open it and let
knock at the door we’ll open it and let fly
fly
fly [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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