Youngsters speak up to win trophies
THE Rotary Club of New Mills, Marple and District has held the first of what is hoped to be an annual event, a public speaking competition for schools.
The competition was split into three categories – juniors, intermediates and seniors - and schools could enter several teams for each category, holding eliminating rounds at their own school.
The winners from each school then went through to a final which was held at Chapel-en-le-frith Golf Club.
Parents, teachers, friends and Rotarians were in the audience to field questions to the teams at the end of each presentation.
Each team was judged by former government minister and TV personality Edwina Currie and retired commercial property lawyer Mike Travis on how well the team’s chairman introduced the team, the content and delivery of the topic and the vote of thanks.
At the end of each group’s talk, the judges gave appraisals of each team’s performance.
The winners of the junior section (for ages nine to 10) were Adam Jackaman, Hazel Ashworth and Jessica Schofield from New Mills Primary School and the winners of the intermediate section (ages 11 to 13) were Connie Skitt, Orla Doyle and Erin Babington from St Thomas More Catholic School, with the runnersup being Anthony Armett, Louis James Ecob and James Madden from Chapel-en-le-Frith High School. The senior division were unable to be represented on this occasion.
Trophies and certificates were then presented to the winners.