THE finals of the annual Young Voices Competition took place at Herne View Primary School in Ilminster.
A collaboration between the school and the Rotary Club of Ilminster, the competition featured 13 young orators from 6 to 10 years old addressing a roomful of people for two minutes each on the subject of the town or village where they live.
The competitors came from six local schools and were divided into two groups, one for Reception to Year 2 Classes and the other for years 3 to 5.
The head of Herne View School, Claire Oaten, acted as compere and the speeches were independently judged by Rotarian Edward Wells, Marie Jewson, and Hattie Luffman.
All the children were excellent and deciding the winners of the two groups was very difficult, but the prizes went in the younger group to Evie as winner and Mathilde as runner-up and Fox as winner and Adelaide as runner-up in the older group.
All the prize winners were from different schools and all those who took part were presented with certificates.
A crowded hall full of relatives, friends, and Rotarians gave all the speakers a rousing ovation and left confident that the public speakers of the future are being given a magnificent start by the schools in South Somerset.
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