Blessed Trinity RC High School win Broughton in Craven Public Speaking Competition

Broughton in Craven were delighted to host a Public Speaking competition on Thursday 16th June at the Tempest Arms, Elslack.

We were able to revive this competition, last held in 2014, for Years 8 and 9 pupils from our local Roman Catholic High schools. These pupils are 13 or 14 years old and learning the skills of public speaking from their enthusiastic teachers, Siobhan Woodruff of Blessed Trinity High School Burnley and Mark Jackson of Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More High School, Colne. 

A really good turnout of members and wives from province and Broughton made it a really good evening. All were amazed how well such young people could stand up and speak in front of so many unknown faces.

Circle President, Bernard Swarbrick, introduced the event and thanked so many for coming along to support our young people.The topic was, 'Is Social Media a good or bad thing?' Arguments on both sides were well structured and contained many facts and ideas. Judging panel Chair, Mike Finley, told both teams how well they had performed congratulating them both and saying how impressed we all were. After much discussion the judges gave the David Carlile Trophy for Public Speaking to Blessed Trinity because they felt that the confidence in answering questions was more developed. The Trophy was then awarded by Barbera Carlile, David's wife. Barbera is a Circle Widow and it was lovely to see her attending. David was a very active member and worked at Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More High School as a Senior Master.

Prizes of book tokens were awarded to the winners by Provincial President, Robert Thompson. It was a fantastic evening and we will certainly look forward to next year's match. We would like to Thank Mike Finley, Sandra Donnelly and Terence Donnelly for acting as the judging Panel.

The picture shows.

L to R   Mike Finley (Chair of judging panel), Tegan, Mariam and Rugile from Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More, Barbera Carlile, Sandra Donnelly, Terence Donnelly and Robert Thompson then the winners from Blessed Trinity High School, Burnley;  Danielle, Alice and Leoni.