Ada Williams Loved The English Language: The recent death of Mrs Ada Williams removed from the community a person who, above all things, loved and expertly used the English language in all its nuances. She also imparted this love to her own family and to many others throughout her lifetime in the form of encouragement and teaching. Ada Williams first made her impact on the Te Awamutu community in 1952 when she lived at Kawhia Road Otorohanga. In that year she attended the first Te Awamutu Competitions Festival as a competitor and a helper in both the speech and drama and the vocal sections. She continued to support the Te Awamutu Festival and others in many centres, mainly as a competitor. She was especially kind and helpful to children. Her daughter, Myra, followed in her footsteps as a consistant competitor and so did, in later years, her grandchildren. Ada Williams did a lot of coaching and teaching over the years. Some years after she and her late husband came to reside in Te Awamutu Ada Williams convened a meeting in her own home on 14 Jul 1971, to discuss formation of a Toastmistress Club. The decision was made at the meeting to found the club which was later chartered and has since become well known in the community for promoting the ideals which were dear to Ada Williams. Many local women can thank Toastmistress training for their poise, confidence and ability to speak. Mrs Williams served a term as secretary, but her forte was in the active role of speechmaking, poetry, reading and debating. Few of the early members can forget the humour, pathos and delivery of her first speech assignment known in the club circles as the "Icebreaker." She was called on often to adjudicate speech contests and debates and herself participated in many throughout the country, winning many awards. At club level she won the annual speech contest and special long service award. Until her recent illness she continued to be an enthusiastic and active club member and a guide and inspiration to others. Talented and warm hearted, her ability, personality, humour and special air of independence was maintained to the end.