Grammar school team wins contest

A TEAM of three grammar school students have won Dover Rotary Club’s speaking competition.

The winners were from Dover Grammar School for Boys but included a girl. Sophie Grayson was the speaker, with Matthew Partridge as chairman and Tobias Wilson proposing the vote of thanks. Sophie spoke about the value of drama in education. She has taken part in a number of drama productions locally, and the previous week played Wishee Washee in Temple Ewell Players’ panto of Aladdin.

The club’s annual Youth Speaks competition, which was open to all Dover secondary schools, was held at St Mary’s Parish Centre on Thursday evening and attracted five teams from three schools Subjects ranged from genetic engineering to the size of fashion models.

The winning team in the junior section, from Christ Church Academy (formerly Archers Court), was Lianne Miller, Bethany Manton and Ellie Tomkinson who argued for the harming of animals from circuses. Others taking part were (seniors) Katie Major, Jordan Shingleton and Fiona Padfield from Dover Grammar School for Girls, Meghan Keeler, Scarlett Northcott and Daniel Kent from Christ Church Academy, (juniors) Owen Fleming, Summer Smith and Jay Bevan from Christ Church Academy.

Rotarian Chris Scoble was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Picture shows Sophie Grayson in her Aladdin costume.