Communication is the centre of all teaching (and learning). The Guild's Public Speaking Competition, revived last year in a new format, proved so successful and enjoyable for those participating and watching that a second, based on the same pattern, was held this year on the evening of 3rd March.

Freeman Glynne Stanfield very kindly offered us one of the Conference rooms in the magnificent surroundings of Eversheds on Queen Victoria Street in the City of London. It proved to offer a most conducive setting for the stimulating, entertaining and excellently prepared speeches on the topics of current interest which had been agreed. The fifteen and sixteen year-old students from Mulberry School for Girls (Tower Hamlets), City of London School (Girls), City of London School (Boys) and University College School spoke with poise and conviction and handled the question sessions with assurance. The skills they displayed will stay with them throughout their lives and careers, and the judges and audience were impressed with their knowledge and quick-wittedness.

As can be seen from the details which follow, the topics were challenging and wide-ranging and delighted the panel of judges (also listed below).

The winner and the two runners-up were awarded superbly engraved 'Iceberg' trophies from the range produced for the Guild, thanks to the generosity of the Trustees; they also received book tokens, and all competitors were given a certificate.

All present were enthralled by the extraordinarily intelligent and articulate speech of the winner, delivered with confident fluency without a single note.

The early arrival of Easter this year meant that some schools which had indicated their interest in participating were unable to do so because of the build-up of end-of-term events. However, some excellent contacts have now been made, and next year we could expect an increase in the number and range of maintained and independent schools involved. The competition now has its own momentum: indeed, three of the competitors in this year's competition had also taken part the previous year and had been keen to do so again. With this keenness and the support of the schools' highly committed members of staff, I am confident that the competition has a promising future and will continue to support the Guild's objectives.

I am most grateful for the support and expertise of the judges, under their excellent leader, Lyn Williams, whose summing-up succeeded triumphantly in demonstrating the skills the judges were advocating, with eloquent demonstration of appropriate body language and particularly apt comments about pace and a salutary reminder not to be over-reliant on the script. She was ably supported by the present Master, who presented the awards, and the immediate Past Master who, along with Lyn Williams, had been a judge the previous year.

I should also like to record my thanks to the Clerk for all his customary helpfulness, to those Freemen of the Guild who attended and gave their support, and to Freeman Glynne Stanfield for his generous hospitality.

Pamela Taylor
Freeman of the Guild