Youth Speaks 2019 (22 January 2019)

ROTARY YOUTH SPEAKS COMPETITION SPONSORED BY MOURANT

This competition, organised by the Rotary Club of Guernsey and sponsored by Mourant has taken place at St. James.

The competition is open to secondary school students and is in two classes – Intermediate, for those aged 14-16 and Senior from 16-18. There are three in each team – a chairman, the main speaker and the proposer of a vote of thanks. Once the main presentation has been made, a question is asked, to which the speaker must respond. Seven teams took part with a variety of subjects.

The judges were Jenny Tasker, a Constable of St. Peter Port, Brian Acton, a past president of the Rotary Club of Guernsey, and chairing the panel Advocate Jessica Roland, managing partner at Mourant.

Summing up the findings of the judges, Advocate Roland said that the standard of presentations had been high and that the marks awarded to the teams were close together. The Raymond Falla Trophy for the best senior team went to Elizabeth College with their subject ‘Failure is Always an Option’ The winner of the intermediate competition, also receiving a Raymond Falla Trophy was also from Elizabeth College speaking about ‘Vincent Van Gigabyte?’

Three further trophies were presented to competitors who were not members of either of the winning teams. Best chairman was awarded to Dominic Coyde while the best main speaker was Louis Kennedy. The best vote of thanks was delivered by Mary-Kate Hubbard.

The overall winner was the Elizabeth College intermediate team, who will go on to represent Guernsey at the next stage of the competition in Southampton in March.

Summing up the evening, president of the Rotary Club of Guernsey Mike Le Conte, spoke of the public service of Raymond Falla, particularly in the later stages of the German occupation, when his negotiating skills secured vital food supplies and saved the island from starvation. Mike revealed that Raymond Falla was his great uncle. Some twenty years ago the trophies were donated by Rosemary Jagger, Raymond Falla’s daughter.

Finally Advocate Robert Shepherd, senior partner at Mourant, who had asked all the questions of the speakers, said how delighted he was that Mourant were sponsoring the competition. Effective speaking was an important skill for lawyers and it was very much in line with the values espoused his firm to promote this skill among young people.

For further information please contact Chris Bradshaw – cbradshaw68@gmail.com, 265295 or Sophie Morgan - Sophie.Morgan@mourant.com, 731533 at Mourant . Photographs taken at the event can be made available.