SCHOOLCHILDREN in Thornbury have been celebrated for their oratory skills with the presentation of awards for a long-running public speaking competition.

The Thornbury Rotary Club’s Youth Speaks competition, which is now in its 20th year, invites children in years five and six from junior schools in the Thornbury area to participate in a speaking competition, over which time around 2,000 children have taken part.

This year’s grand final, which was held on Monday, July 4 in Olveston saw winners Emily Ridewood from Christ the King School, Michael Somper from St Peter’s School in Pilning and Isabelle Preston from Tockington Manor School, presented with awards after the judges were impressed with the high standard of their respective talks on the Olympics, 90 years of change and pollution.

“Each year we never cease to be amazed at the range of topics discussed and the increasing excellence in presentation,” said Richard Hiscock, president of Thornbury Rotary Club, who judged the competition with Anny Bradley, president of Thornbury Inner Wheel, and Thornbury mayor Cllr Helen Harrison.

He added: “Our hope is that this competition has allowed them the status and confidence to see them through their school careers and on into their working lives” 

As a supporter of opportunities for young people in Thornbury, Cllr Harrison said: “Being a judge for this competition was very hard as the standard of speaking from all the young people was very high.

“The breadth of topic was wide, the depth of knowledge very impressive and choosing a winner was not an easy task. A big congratulations to all participants for their speeches, my thanks to the Rotary Club for 20 years of providing such a wonderful opportunity to the young people of Thornbury and surrounding villages.”