Patto was exactly what we wanted for our club dinner. He had the room from the moment he started, mixing great cricket stories and humour with a genuinely powerful personal story. What struck me most was how natural he was. There was no sense of giving a ‘speech’, it felt like one of the lads was telling some great stories, albeit with a pretty extraordinary story behind them! There were plenty of laughs, some really moving moments and a few times when the room went completely quiet. Patto has faced some huge challenges, but the way he talks about them with honesty, humour and absolutely no self-pity, really makes you think. The feedback from our members afterwards was excellent, and he was still being talked about after the event. If you’re looking for an after-dinner speaker who can entertain and leave them with something to take away, we’d have no hesitation recommending Patto. And, importantly, he’s a bloody good bloke too!

Having Patto speak at our club dinner was a great choice. He struck the right balance from the start some great stories from his cricket career, plenty of laughs and a really honest account of what he’s been through and how he’s dealt with it. What came across most was how natural Patto was. He wasn’t trying too hard to be funny or turn it into a motivational speech. He just told his story in his own way, with plenty of self-deprecating humour along the way. There were certainly a few moments where the room was laughing, but there were also times when everyone was completely silent and listening. His story gives you plenty to think about without him ever preaching. And, thankfully, he didn’t spend the evening analysing anyone’s batting technique although I’m sure he could have! The lads really enjoyed it and I had several people mention afterwards how much they’d enjoyed Patto’s talk. As captain, I’d have no hesitation recommending him to another club. He’s a great speaker, has a remarkable story and knows how to read a room is probably one of the more useful skills you can have. We’d certainly have him back.

We asked Patto to speak at our end-of-year awards ceremony, and he was a great addition to the evening. He struck the right balance between humour and sharing his story, and the students were engaged from the start. It was clear that they enjoyed listening to him, but also took something from what he had to say. What stood out to me was how naturally Patto connected with the pupils. He didn’t lecture them or try to make the talk overly serious. He simply shared his experiences in a very open and entertaining way, which made his message all the more effective. The feedback afterwards was fantastic. Staff, students and parents all commented on how much they had enjoyed his talk. One of our students came up to me afterwards and simply said, “That was actually really good, I didn’t expect to enjoy it that much.” I thought that probably summed it up rather well! For an end-of-year event, we wanted something the students would actually remember once they left the hall, and Andrew certainly achieved that. I’d be very happy to recommend Patto to anywhere that is having celebration awards. He is engaging, funny and very easy to listen to, and he brought something genuinely different to our awards evening.

Some speakers leave you with a few words to remember. Patto left our students with something to think about long after the event had finished. We invited Patto to speak at our awards at St Joseph’s College Ipswich, and he was a wonderful addition to the occasion. He brought a great mix of humour, honesty and warmth to the event. His story is remarkable, but it was the way he told it that really connected with our students. He was open, relatable and completely himself, which made his message feel genuine rather than rehearsed. The feedback from the event was fantastic. Students, staff and parents all commented on how engaging Patto was and how much they had enjoyed listening to him. What impressed me most was that he managed to entertain the room while also giving our students something meaningful to take away. There was plenty of laughter, but also some very thoughtful moments. Patto was a memorable part of our event and I would have no hesitation in recommending him.

We were delighted to welcome Patto as an after-dinner speaker at our sports presentation evening this year. His talk left a lasting impression on students, parents and staff. Focusing on the resilience developed through sport, Patto shared his personal journey with honesty, humility and genuine authenticity, demonstrating how overcoming adversity has played a key role in shaping his character and achievements. Patto's engaging delivery, combined with his self-deprecating humour and relatable storytelling, captivated the audience from start to finish. He struck the perfect balance between entertaining and inspiring. Most importantly, Patto provided our students with clear, practical lessons about perseverance, mindset and embracing challenges. His story encouraged them to reflect on their own journeys, both in sport and in everyday life, and left them feeling motivated to approach setbacks as opportunities for growth.