Published: Thursday, 22nd May, 2008 12:53pm

Talented teens debate their way to national glory

by Adam Hewitt

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MOTORMOUTH pupils got sweet payback for years of training at the weekend when they won a national debating competition.

The year 9 Woodley schoolchildren from Bulmershe School competed in London at the highest level in the Rotary Youth Speaks contest chaired by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, and afterwards met Cherie Booth, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, to get their award.

Team leader Sam Warren also won the award for best chairman, while his team-mates Katy Whittle and Alex Squires distinguished themselves with their witty speaking.

Trevor Barber, of Loddon Vale Rotary Club, said: "Sam displayed control and management skills way beyond his tender years and created a superbly calming aura which allowed Alex and Katy to deliver their presentations creatively, appealingly and with well-timed humour.

"It is recognised that these are life skills which will serve the participants well in any career they wish to embark upon."

Teams spoke within tight time constraints on topical subjects, including the smoking ban, child protection and getting through adolescence - the Bulmershe team called their presentation on that topic 'A Plea For Understanding'.

They won the intermediate competition for those up to 14 years old, held at the City of London Boys School in Blackfriars on Sunday in the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral and the Tate Modern.

Ms Booth told them: "When I was in the Sixth Form I used to participate in the English Speaking Union debates in a team of three in precisely this format - I enjoyed it tremendously and I feel it gave me the confidence to speak in public which led to my becoming a barrister and so helped me get where I am today."

As well as their trophy, the trio each won a £50 book token, and will get to spend a day in London visiting the BBC Television Centre and the House of Lords as guests of its speaker Baroness Hayman.