The team from John Taylor High School in Barton under Needwood won the Parliamentary Michael Fabricant-Arthur Price of England Schools Speaking Competition 2016 when it was held on Friday night (26th February) in the Guildhall, Lichfield. Lewis Coles from Chase Terrace Technology College won Best Overall Speaker.

“Five local schools took part this year” says Michael Fabricant. “Chase Terrace Technology College, the Erasmus Darwin Academy, John Taylor High School, King Edward VI School, and, for the first time, Lichfield Cathedral School. The standard was incredibly high and the top three schools were all within 5 points of each other out of a possible 240 points.

“The Motion this year was highly topical: ‘That unlimited immigration benefits the UK’. Four schools argued against the motion saying that while some immigration is beneficial, ‘unlimited’ immigration would be harmful to our culture and infrastructure. But Chase Terrace Technology College argued for the motion without reservation and the best overall speaker came from that School. But it was pointed out that marks are given for speaking style and argument and not for whether the judges agree or not with the argument.

“The judges this year were David Stainsby (President of Lichfield St Chad Rotary Club who help organise the event), Andrew Smith (Mayor of Lichfield), Simon Price (Managing Director of Arthur Price of England who provide the winning silver cups), and Michael Sheldon (Sheriff of Lichfield). I acted as Mister Speaker for the evening.

“My thanks go to the teachers and parents of all the teams who participated as well as the speakers themselves. But my especial congratulations go to Daniel Ruttley, Robert Adderley, and Lucy Boland from the winning John Taylor High School team and to Lewis Coles of Chase Terrace Technology College. And a special thanks go to Lichfield City Council who host the event and do much of the organising along with my PA in Westminster, Joanne Frey.”

Photographs (taken by Robert Yardley Photography www.ryphotography.com) show:

(1) From left to right: Michael Sheldon (Sheriff of Lichfield), Andrew Smith (Mayor of Lichfield), Simon Price (Managing Director of Arthur Price of England), Daniel Ruttley, Lucy Boland and Robert Adderley (all from the winning John Taylor High School Team), Lewis Coles (best overall speaker), Michael Fabricant, and David Stainsby (President of Lichfield St Chad Rotary Club)

and

(2) The competition in session with the Town Clerk Christopher Moulton and ‘Mister Speaker’ Michael Fabricant on the left and the judges on the right, left to right: David Stainsby (President of Lichfield St Chad Rotary Club who help organise the event), Andrew Smith (Mayor of Lichfield), Simon Price (Managing Director of Arthur Price of England who provide the winning silver cups), and Michael Sheldon (Sheriff of Lichfield).