Young People’s Speaking Skills on Display

Please click on the photos  to enlarge them  Pictured: Senior best team with Ascot Rotary President Bob Linnell (L) and Vice President Anthony Hatch On 21st November, the first round of the Rotary Club’s nationwide Youth Speaks competition was held at St. Georges School in Ascot.  A total of 14 teams took part from 5 schools, Charters, Licensed Victuallers, Marist Senior School, St. George’s and St Mary’s.  The event is divided into a Senior and Intermediate competition.  Each team consists of three speakers, a Chair, a Main Speaker and a Proposer of a Vote of Thanks.   Each team is allowed to choose their own subject for their talk.
The main focus behind the competition is to develop skills in public speaking and this has the attendant benefit of improving self-confidence and organisational skills.  Three Adjudicators (all very experienced teachers and experts in this field) judged each section.

  Photograph: Intermediate best individual speaker Leo Jarvis  Rotary Club President Bob Linnell said “The standard achieved by these young people was most impressive and it is clear that a lot of hard work has gone into their presentations.  The Rotary Club is very pleased to be able to support this competition and give local school pupils the chance to participate.”
The best Intermediate Team was St Mary’s Team C consisting of Chair; Florence Bish-Jones, Speaker; Allegra Moghtader-Mojdehi, and Vote of thanks; Lucy Platts.  The prize for the best individual speaker went to Leo Jarvis from Charters Team A.
The best Senior Team was St George’s Team C consisting of Chair: Tanya Gecim, Speaker; Jenny Blackburn and Vote of Thanks; Jenny Blackburn.  The prize for the best individual speaker went to Jenny Blackburn.
All competitors received certificates from the Rotary Club and the winners received additional trophies and mementoes from the Club.
The next round of the competition, where other clubs in the District will send their winning teams, will be in February at a school in Marlow.