Rotary Club of Ascot

PRESS RELEASE – 16th November 2005

 

Communications & Press officer           Ian Valentine                        ian@cival.info

For information by telephone contact  Beverley Williams               01344 874300

 

Young People Present their Views

 

Tuesday 15th November saw the local heats of the 21st annual “Youth Speaks” public speaking competition, organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot.  13 teams of young people from local schools participated this year, presenting subjects as diverse as the battle between media and education, and whether scientist should stop playing God?  The event took place by courtesy of St. George’s School, Ascot, who entered a total of four teams.  Other teams came from St. Mary’s School, Ascot, Charters School, and the Marist Senior School.

The Master of Ceremonies, Rotarian Alan Keen, said “I think the standard improves each year.  We have had an excellent set of thought-provoking presentations.” 

The chairman of the adjudicators for the Intermediate Competition, Bernard Atkins, said that there was very little to choose between the top three teams, however the Intermediate Award went to the team of Tula Fazakerley, Charlotte Manducca and Iona Murray from St. Mary’s School, who spoke on the subject “Progress Makes Perfect”.  The Best Speaker prize in the Intermediate section was awarded to Jack Ling of Charters school, who spoke very eloquently on the subject “Jealousy is a Serious Condition”.

In the Senior Competition, adjudicator Elizabeth Hawkes reported that “The standard has been absolutely tremendous, with well-researched material that really engaged the audience”.  The Senior Award was won by the team of Laura Fox, Wallace Martin-Kerr and Amy Cooper from the Marist Senior School, speaking on the subject “The Perfect Woman”.  The Senior Best Speaker prize was won by Harriet Mallinson of St. Mary’s School.

The prizes were presented by the President of the Rotary Club of Ascot, Alan Penny, who again spoke of the high standard of the presentations.  He acknowledged the commitment of the teachers who supported the teams, and thanked St. George’s school for hosting the event.  The winning teams from this competition go forward to the regional competition in Uxbridge in February 2006.