Youth Speaks 2018

Success for Newport Schools

A team from the Haberdashers Adams’Grammar School won the Telford round of the Rotary International in Britain & Ireland [RIBI] public speaking competition held at Haberdashers Adams’Grammar School  on Tuesday 13th February.  

The Telford heat of ‘Youth Speaks’, sponsored by Rotary Clubs of Ironbridge, Newport, Telford Centre, Wellington and The Wrekin was contested by 7 teams representing the Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, Haberdashers Adams’Grammar School, Newport Girls’ High School and Telford College.  

With just minutes to put their argument across, the teams of three must work together to introduce their chosen topic, deliver it in a clear, balanced and entertaining manner and invite the audience to be involved.  The teams choose their own topics, these ranging from ‘Just because we can, should we?’ to ‘Social media is a social good’.

The judges are looking for confident performers, clearly articulated points of view and the ability to respond to questions.  Chair of the Judges Jean Escott, former Arts & Culture Manager for Telford & Wrekin Council, congratulated all the competitors on their performance and on their interesting and well researched topics before giving the result of the competition to the teams and audience.  

The Haberdashers Adams’Grammar School team of Saffron Howdle [Chairperson], Felix Davison [Speaker] and Peter Overal [Proposer of the Vote of Thanks] whose topic was ‘Walls: the divide between fiction and reality’ were presented with a trophy, certificates and gift vouchers.  The team, supported by their tutor Donald Fear, now proceed to the RIBI District 1210 Final which takes place on 7th March in Leek.

They will be joined in the District 1210 Final by the second place team representing Newport Girls’ High School who were supported by their tutor Daniel Postle.  Phoebe Williams [Chairperson], Leoni Bagnall [Speaker] and Eve Gollins [Proposer of the Vote of Thanks] spoke on the topic ‘How loud is your voice in society?’ 

The event organiser Rotarian Neil Phillips of the Rotary Club of Wellington said, ‘ The standard of presentations from the teams was again very high with a variety of interesting topics.  The judges had a difficult task in reaching their decision.  We wish the winning team from Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar School and the runners-up from Newport Girls’ High School the best of luck as they advance to the district final on 7th March.’

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