Local children win national competition

Young britons as public speakers

By Susan Hall

This picture appeared in the Welwyn Times on 28 April 1938 on page 1 along with the following article:

"Peartree Young Britons have followed up their success in the Eastern Area Speakers' competition by winning the national trophy on Saturday last.

The competition was held in the large hall at Caxton Hall, and the children were speaking to about three hundred people. Teams representing ten areas came from all over England and Wales; from Newcastle, Cardiff, Dudley, Nottingham, York and places nearer home, Surbiton and Edgware. Some of the children travelled all night, but this didn't make them too tired to visit the Zoo before coming to the Competition! Most of the speakers had chosen "British Freedom" as their subject, but the local children spoke again on "The Solider,"

The trophy is a beautiful silver replica of the British Lion, and was donated by Lady Davidson, the chairman of Young Britons. As she is abroad with her husband, her place was taken by Mr J. P. L. Thomas, M.P., one of the Vice-Chairman of the Young Britons. The judges were Lady Lucus Tooth, Mr C Pearce, J.P., and Mrs E Soutter.

The Garden City team was trained by Mrs Frank Roe,was composed of Chairman, Pat Roe; Speaker, Nancy Collins; Proposer of vote of thanks, Cyril Holmes; Seconder, Charlie Gabell, and all the children are only eleven years old.

Nancy Collins, as the speaker in the winning team, had the privilage of proposing the vote of thanks to the judges, and this was seconded by Nottingham, the runners up.

The team was the youngest of the ten teams competing, and third place was gained by another young team-four little girls from Penarth in South Wales.

The adjudicator commented on the good elocution of the children, so perhaps Young Britons will provide the future stars of the local dramatic societies.