Report from The Dymond Speech 2022
We were delighted to hold the 111th annual Dymond Speech Competition as part of our Prizegiving Evening on Saturday 25 June 2022. Instituted in 1911 by a descendant of Henry Dymond (Headmaster 1854-1864), the Dymond Speech counts among its many illustrious winners BBC Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb, who won the competition three times in the 1970s.
This year, students across the Senior School submitted video entries to the English department, who shortlisted four competitors for the live event: Sewa Zamba (Year 13), Olha Khomiak (Year 12), Thomas Lloyd (Year 12), and Maddie Didau (Year 12). Each spoke engagingly on a range of topics, including the representation of Africa, the art of decision making, the mental health of paramedics, and the role of gender in modern society.
A panel of three judges included Katherine Bryan-Merrett, Artist, Sidcotian (2000-2002) and Winner of the Dymond Speech in 2002; James Oakley, Executive Headteacher of Mendip Green Primary School; and Sarah Simms, Director of Marketing & Development (who stood in as Chair of judges for Jameson Miller, Chair of Governors, who was prevented from travelling due to the national rail strikes).
The judges commended each of the competitors for their courage in presenting so eloquently and professionally in front of a large audience. They acknowledged the impossible nature of choosing a winner among the calibre of public speaking on display, encouraging each of the competitors to continue with the art, given their obvious promise.
However - as Olha’s speech dictated - a decision did have to be made, as follows:
- Winner: Sewa
- First Runner Up: Tomtom
- Second Runners Up: Olha and Maddie
Head of English, Jake Resuggan, is immensely proud of Sewa, Olha, TomTom and Maddie: ‘The speeches given by the finalists were truly impressive for a myriad of reasons. Their intelligence, curiosity and passion, their charm and eloquence, to begin with. Then their work ethic, their stamina and determination to put the hard work in that is necessary to craft an engaging and thought-provoking speech. And then there’s the fact that these students are studying a range of subjects at A-Level and IB, some of them still finishing exams days before the speech, performing in plays, running and assisting with charity events, attending Sixth Form Balls, dealing with all manner of personal and social challenges. To do all this and then give a speech to a packed house is nothing short of remarkable. What great students! What a great example for other students! What great ambassadors for the school and the values we stand for! They are amazing.’
Jake Resuggan would also like to extend his thanks to all involved, his colleagues Tom Church and Kerry Egan, who gave invaluable advice and coaching to all of the finalists; the judges; Iain Kilpatrick and Christian Hughes; Paul Woolley, the Director of Music, for providing such polished and wonderful performances in Music.
The annual Prizegiving ceremony followed the Speech competition.
