Anthony Church, ‘S-Stammering: Normality Is an Illusion’

St Catherine’s College proudly presents the second talk in the Trinity Edition of Catz in Conversation – our all-new webinar series by alumni, for everyone.

On Wednesday, 3rd June at 6pm, Anthony Church (1977, Chemistry) shares a deeply personal reflection on a lifetime of living with a stammer. Has anyone ever said to you, ‘That’s easy for you to say!‘ For 1% of the adults and 5% of children, that is reality. In this talk, Anthony will explore stammering: the physical tics, the psychological impact, the avoidance tactics, the common myths, and what others can do to help.

Drawing on lived experience, he will discuss the realities of stammering – from blocks and repetitions to the less visible impacts of self-doubt, avoidance, and resilience. He will explore how stammering shapes interactions in both personal and professional life, including its relationship with confidence, leadership, and public speaking.

Anthony will also reflect on the psychological and emotional dimensions of stammering, including the idea of ‘covert’ stammering. Using the analogy of an iceberg, he will illustrate how the visible aspects of speech often conceal a much deeper internal experience. Along the way, he will challenge broader assumptions about perceived ‘limitations’ – for example, the idea that a deaf person cannot dance, or a blind person cannot skateboard – and what these reveal about how we respond to difference.

The talk will conclude with a live Q&A.

Anthony Church

Anthony Church (1977, Chemistry) spent the majority of his career in IT, including in senior management roles. At John Lewis, where he worked from 1982 to 2019, Anthony led supply chains teams of over 100 people across the UK and India.

He studied Chemistry at Catz, where he met his wife, Marie-Therese, who was reading French and Spanish. Shortly after graduating, they spent time in Valencia, Spain, where they both taught English. Anthony has since lived and worked in the UK, Spain, and Ireland, and now resides in Galway following his retirement.

Alongside his professional career, he has raised a family with five children and five grandchildren, and is currently involved as a volunteer puppy raiser for Irish Guide Dogs. A keen runner, he continues to set himself new challenges, including a goal of completing 26 races in 2026.

Anthony has lived with a stammer all his life. Through this talk, he will bring together personal insight, professional experience, and a lifelong commitment to increasing understanding of stammering as a complex and commonly misunderstood condition.

To secure your place at our full term of online talks, please see here. All talks in the series are scheduled for either a lunchtime (1-2pm) or an evening (6-7pm) slot. All are free to attend and open to all. Lasting 45 minutes and followed by an audience Q&A, these talks are the perfect chance to strengthen your professional network, to advance your knowledge, and to hear from past generations of Catz alumni working in future-forward fields.

All webinars are hosted on Zoom. Unless stated otherwise, they are recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel.

Date

3 June, 2026

Time

6 - 7pm

Venue

Online, via Zoom

Price

Free