We were delighted to host the Rotary Club Public Speaking competition on Monday Evening (January 29 2007).
Eight teams, including Harrow Way, presented speeches to the team of three judges and an audience of supporters. We were particularly pleased this year to welcome an Intermediate and Senior team from John Hanson, a Senior team from Winton and stalwarts of the competition, Rookwood, who also entered a team in both sections.
Harrow Way entered two Senior teams this year and both were strong contenders for the judges’ top marks. The Year 11 team were ultimately victorious, battling off teams from all the other schools, to win the Senior Team prize. Archie Burbidge was Best Chairperson, Nicola Stead as Best Speaker, ably supported by Michael Glover as Proposer of Vote of Thanks. Nicola’s performance exuded the confidence and professionalism we have come to expect of her as she presented her response to the statement ‘British Teenagers are the Worst in Europe’. They will now go through to the Regional Competition in Salisbury on Saturday February 10 so we are pinning our hopes on them to win through again. Good Luck!
The Year 10 team should have had Emma Compton as Chair but sadly she was taken ill at the last minute. However, she was ably represented by Max Barnett, Deputy Head Boy, who stepped in and served the team well. Main Speaker, Laura Shears, gave a polished performance on the subject ‘Why do we laugh?’ which raised some chuckles and applause. Amber Stubbs as Proposer of Vote of Thanks responded with confidence and assurance. No prizes this year but we look forward to a return match next year!
Harrow Way also entered a strong Year 9 team in the Intermediate section with three excellent contestants: Alex Watson in the Chair, Heidi Hodgkinson, Main Speaker, and George Allmark, Proposer of Thanks. The team exuded confidence and Heidi was highly commended by the judges for her impassioned and professional performance on the subject of body image, which raised some shocking facts. Heidi, who was by this time running a high temperature, probably didn’t fully recognise just how good her performance had been. What a star to battle on!
The Rookwood team were rewarded with the team cup but it was closely fought and we hope to see the Intermediate team returning to the competition next year as Seniors.
We were extremely proud of all our students who, as always, presented themselves and their ideas with maturity and professionalism.
We were especially delighted that Miss Woodrow agreed for her BTEC dancers to perform to Stravinsky’s Firebird, (an adaptation for the stage fresh from their success at The Anvil in Basingstoke ), as the judges deliberated. The audience were delighted by the performance, the first time we have offered such an interlude in the proceedings. Our thanks to all who took part.
Mrs Belsey
