Speaking Up

Tamsin Eddey and Thomas Sankey (pictured above) are two of our most experienced and successful orators. Over the years they have taken part in many competitions run by the BBC, the English Speaking and Oxford Unions, Rotary International and the Model United Nations.

They have been District Champions in a number of national competitions and last year they were regional finalists in the ESU Mace.   Images of them speaking at Hampton Court Palace have even found their way onto the web thanks to their performance in the ESU Great Debates!

They opened this year's campaign here at The Park.   On 17th November we hosted the first round of the Mace, entertaining teams and supporters from two Taunton schools - King's College and Queen's College - and from Chilton Cantelo School.  Natasha Dennington chaired a debate between Queen's and Chilton on one of the trickiest topics in medical ethics, "This house would remove the right to refuse life-saving treatment".   The other debate was even more topical.   Thomas and Tamsin (seen in action below)

found themselves defending one of the most unpopular groups in Britain today when they opposed a motion put forward by King's, "This house believes that phone-tapping by journalists can never be justified".  They came to the fray battle-hardened - they had opposed the same motion a week earlier in a heated meeting of our own Debating Society - and the experience clearly stood them in good stead as they picked their way through a minefield of ethical, legal and political difficulties surrounding phone-hacking and went on to attack the proposition as wooly and unrealistic.    We were delighted but not surprised that they got through to the second round, along with the two speakers from Queen's.   Congratulations to them all!