Claverham pupils speak out in Rotary competition

It saw senior schools from Battle and Bexhill going head to head.

This year the heat was hosted by Battle Abbey School and the presentations were given in the magnificent setting of the school library.

There were two competitions - intermediate for those aged between 11 and 13 and senior for 14 to 17-year-olds.

The Intermediates got the evening off with an impressive variety of topics – “The dangers of virtual violence” from Claverham Community College, “The 21st Century teen” from Vinehall, “What is an average person?” from Bexhill High, and “Fast Food and Freedom of Choice” from Battle Abbey.

After the interval, it was the turn of the seniors. The first presentation was given in impeccable English and with a great touch of humour by a guest team from De Lage Waard School from Holland with their “Power to Music”.

Other topics were: “The Internet: caught in its web” presented by St Richard’s Catholic College, “Decoding the gender divide” by Claverham Community College, “You just don’t get it” by Battle Abbey and “Is technology really to blame?” from Bexhill High.

After a thorough deliberation by the judges, Kenneth Melsom, Mark Mulcahy and Toby Hufford, they announced the winners. Kenneth Melsom said, “We chose Claverham in the Intermediate category. The chair was in good control, the speaker engaged with the audience and a well thought through Vote of Thanks rounded off their presentation.

“Choosing a winner from the seniors was even more difficult. We eventually agreed on Claverham. Their chair was amusing, the speaker was confident, in complete command and presented very interesting facts and the proposer of the Vote of Thanks was passionate and amusing. The team from Holland were incredible with such a good speech with amazing pronunciation.”

After the presentations the President of Battle Rotary Club, Peter Mills, rounded of the evening by thanking Battle Abbey School for use of the venue, the teams, their teachers, the audience, judges and timekeepers as well as a special mention for Roger Batey and Thelma Farr who organised the event. The teams from Claverham Community College will now go forward to the District Final on Saturday February 28 in Maidstone and, hopefully then to the Regional Final on April 18 and eventually to the National Final on May 10.

For more on Rotary Club activities log on to www.bexhill.rotaryweb.org or www.battlerotary.org.uk.