Following on from the success of our Public Speaking Competition hub days in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle, we were delighted to hold two further such days in London, at Putney High School for Girls and Francis Holland School, Sloane Square. The days replaced what had been eight or nine separate heats, with four heats in the morning and an afternoon’s final deciding the winning teams to go through to the London Regional Final at Dartmouth House. Around 50 students attended each day with plenty of parents and other students to support which created a real buzz and sense of occasion. Many London branch members acted as judges or volunteers, and the branch kindly sponsored the catering.
‘The quality of speaking was very high,’ says London branch chair Edward Towne. ‘I was particularly impressed with how speakers answered unexpected questions from the floor.’
