THE Rotary Club of Barry is delighted to announce the success of their senior team in the District 1150 Final of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition, hosted by the Rotary Club of Cowbridge on Saturday, March 11, in Cowbridge Comprehensive School.

Youth Speaks is an excellent Youth Opportunities Services project designed to provide young people with the opportunity to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to make public presentations in a competitive environment.

In the Senior Section (14 to 18-year-olds), seven teams sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Llantrisant, Cwmbran Vale, Swansea Valley, Llanelli, Llandovery, Barry, Narberth and Whitland competed and the team from Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Barry were awarded second place.

Their team was chaired by Tirion Davies, their speaker was Nia Brown and their vote of thanks was given by Elin Alexander. The team’s chosen topic was “Is modern education destructive?”

In line with national rules, speaker Nia Brown had to answer a question from the audience to show her understanding of their chosen topic.

District 1150 winners were the team from Maesydderwen Comprehensive School, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Swansea Valley who will go on to the Regional Final to be held later in the year.

Judges in the senior section were Colin Johnson OBE, Barbara Stubbs BA and Jeffrey Robinson BA, MEd (chairman). Speaking on behalf of the judges, Mr Robinson spoke of the outstanding high standards set by the contestants and said that they were a credit to their schools.

He also paid tribute to everyone – parents, teachers and Rotarians - who had worked so hard to make this round of the competition so successful.

Speaking to the team members of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg at the end of the competition, president elect of Barry Rotary Club, Jill Osborne congratulated them all, saying the Rotary Club of Barry was very proud of their achievements.