Rotary Youth Speaks 2011

The Rotary Public Speaking competition, known as “Youth Speaks”, is going from strength to strength, with more teams of young people entering every year. Having run a very successful local round of Youth Speaks at Cranleigh School on 31 January 2011, the Rotary Club of Cranleigh hosted the Intermediate-age Area Final at Cranleigh Baptist Church on 12 February and the National Finals on 1 May.

In the Intermediate event, 13 teams of 11 - 13 year old students battled to go on to the District Final. It was a great afternoon with some truly inspiring speeches on a wide range of challenging subjects. The adjudicators, Rev’d Canon Nigel Nicholson, Rector of St Nicolas Church, Cranleigh, Dianne Davies, Chairman of the Village Hospital League of Friends, and Mark Lebus, chairman of Cranleigh Initiative, had an extremely difficult time in selecting the winners.

Also in attendance were Simon Crowther, the Rotary District 1250 Governor, Duncan Anderson, the District Governor Elect and William Harmsworth, the District Governor Nominee.

The winning team was Great Walstead School, Lindfield, Sussex, who spoke on the subject “Are we born wicked?” The other teams to go forward to the District Final were Glebelands School of Cranleigh, Salesian College, Farnborough, and Rodborough Specialist Technology School from Milford.

(Top) The team from Great Walstead School, Lindfield, Sussex, who won the Area final of Rotary Youth Speaks for 11-13 year-old students, with Simon Crowther, the Rotary District 1250 Governor.

(Bottom) The winning senior team in the Rotary Youth Speaks National Final, with RIBI President Jim Molson (left) and the Rotary 1190 District Governor.

Teams of students and visitors from all over Great Britain and Ireland descended on Cranleigh School for the Rotary Youth Speaks National Final on 1 May. Seven senior teams and seven intermediate teams competed for the accolade of being the best young public speakers in the entire country.

450 people attended the event, including the Rotary International President, Jim Moulson, who presented the prizes, the Inner Wheel Association President, Pam McConnell, and 10 Rotary District Governors, including Simon Crowther from the local District 1250.

The judging for the senior event was carried out by the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Sarah Goad, the Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, Penelope Keith, and Roger Tilbury. The judges for the intermediate competition were, Anthony Harris, Miranda Powell and David Fetterol.

“It was a great afternoon and the judges were most impressed by the teams,” said Cranleigh Rotarian Michael Hart, the organiser of the competition. “We are most grateful to Cranleigh School for their wonderful hospitality, to the distinguished judges who gave up their time to participate, and to everyone who took part.”

In the senior competition, the winning team was Windermere School, from Rotary Windermere District 1190, speaking on the subject: “But is it art?” The Best Senior Chairman was Nathan Lawrence of Kingsmead Community School, the Best Speaker was Poppy Bullard of Windermere School and the Best Vote of Thanks was by Richard Flint of Windermere School.

In the intermediate competition for 11-13 year-olds, the winning team was Roundwood Park School from Rotary Harpenden District 1260, speaking on the subject: “What has happened to good manners?” The Best Chairman was Declan Mason from St Richard’s Catholic College, the Best Speaker was Hannah Berry of Roundwood Park School, and the Best Vote of Thanks was by Megan Brind of Woodbrook Vale High School, Loughborough.

Youth Speaks is an annual public speaking competition organised by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI). Schools from all over the country participate in the local rounds, followed by District and Regional Finals before culminating in the National Final.