A team of three girls from St. Mary’s School, Ascot, beat off competition from teams representing schools in Slough, Northwood and Windsor to win the zone final of the Rotary “Youth Speaks” competition held in Ascot last week.  As well a receiving the winner’s shield, the team now goes through to the District Final in March, where they will compete against teams from the rest of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and parts of Oxfordshire.
The girls, who were competing at the “Intermediate” level, for 11-13 year olds,  chose as their subject “From Bearded to Beautiful” – the rise of the ‘Glam Man’”, and they argued enthusiastically that men in general should pay more attention to style, fashion, makeup and grooming.  The team comprised Hebe Bourne, who was the chair person, Lucy Gaynor, the main speaker, and Derbhla Slevin who proposed the vote of thanks.
Other winners in the competition included Rahul Soni, of Herschel Grammar School, Slough, who won the Best Individual Speaker award at the Intermediate level.  The Senior competition (14-17 year olds) was won by the team from Uxbridge College, whose speaker, Ismaila Ngum also won the best Individual Speaker (Senior) award.
The event was organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot, with St. Georges School, Ascot, kindly providing the venue.  After presenting the awards, President Colin Corio of the Rotary Club of Ascot said “It is always a pleasure to hear these young people speaking so eloquently, and I am amazed how the quality of their presentation just seems to get better and better year by year.”

Photograph: Rotary Club of Ascot President Colin Corio presents the Zone Intermediate Shield to the Team from St. Mary’s School, Ascot (LtoR Lucy Gaynor, Hebe Bourne, Derbhla Slevin)