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Robbie Glen had them rolling in the aisles. This man should carry a government health warning he is seriously funny...
Sunday Times
Robbie Glen, the prison governor (retired) 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. These include Variety Club Tribute Dinners for Lord Richard Attenborough, Jimmy Logan and Alistair McCoist. Also a Lord’s Taverners Tribute Lunch for Sir Harry Secombe. He has twice entertained at Variety Club Golfing Society Annual Dinners in London.
International speaker:
His versatility has seen him speak at business lunches in the Eiffel Tower and in Vancouver. He has spoken at a St Andrew’s Day Ball in Singapore. Also at Burns Suppers in Cairo, Calgary and Edmonton. In Europe Robbie has spoken at conference dinners in a bierkeller in Frankfurt and a wine cellar in Lisbon. He has also been asked to address many ladies only functions. He is also 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 also Strathclyde University. He taught for one year in Blantyre before joining the Prison Service as an Assistant Governor in 1969.
The Prisons:
Robbie Glen, a Fellow of the Institute of Management, was Governor of Castle Huntly Young Offenders Institution – Dungavel Prison where he was Deputy and also Acting Governor – along with Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow. He also had the pleasure of being Governor of Cornton Vale, which is Scotland’s only female establishment. Robbie 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. This has produced rave reviews from his varied list of clients.
The talks:
His motivational skills are called upon to set the tone for numerous conferences. At the same time 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. Unfortunately, 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. He developed a walking aid for her with his staff and prisoners. This was in 1981 and it is now being used in 41 hospitals and schools in Scotland teaching handicapped children how to walk.
Robbie Glen Prison Governor Accolades:
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 Companies’ Scottish Dinner last Thursday. .… Glen’s jokes came so thick and fast that AITC director-general Daniel Godfrey was at one stage concerned his outgoing chairman Alex Hammond-Chambers might be ‘at risk of dying from oxygen starvation’.”
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 Scotland’s branch of the Institute of Petroleum’s annual dinner rolling in the aisles earlier this week.
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.
