Before he ascended the throne, Albert, Duke of York hated public speaking because he suffered from a severe stammer. His closing speech at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley on 31 October 1925 proved that the speaker and listeners alike. The experience left the Duke resolved to find a way to manage his stammer, so he engaged Logue in 1926.
Diagnosing poor co-ordination between the Duke's larynx and thoracic diaphragm, Logue prescribed a daily hour of vocal exercises. Logue's treatment gave the Duke the confidence to relax and avoid tension-induced muscle spasms. As a result, he suffered only the occasional hesitancy in speech. By 1927, he was speaking confidently and managed his address at the opening of the Old Parliament House in Canberra without stammering.
Logue worked with the Duke through the 1930s and 40s. He used tongue-twisters to help his patient rehearse for major speeches, his coronation, and his radio broadcasts to the British Empire throughout the Second World War. The two men remained friends until the King's death.
References[change | change source]
- "Logue, Lionel George (1880–1953), by Suzanne Edgar". Australian Dictionary of Biography, published by Australian National University. http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150145b.htm. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
Other websites[change | change source]
- "Lionel Logue 'never swore in front of King George VI'", BBC Radio Leicester
- Bowen, C. (2002). Lionel Logue: Pioneer speech therapist. Retrieved 1 January 2011