This year a new coach was at the helm, Jonny White, whose policy has been to open up senior debating further down the School, encouraging as many pupils as possible to speak in our internal society, with more motions debated impromptu and more speakers decided 'on the day' from members of the floor. Motions this year have varied from 'This House Would Live in Interesting Times' to 'This House Prefers Blur to Blair' (the latter being memorable as half the floor and one speaker had no idea who Blur was!) Having said that, attendances this year have been disappointing, especially amongst the Remove once UCAS season had been negotiated. The quality of debate has as ever been high, especially from the floor, where speeches, while invariably intelligent and often witty, have not always been quite to the point. Both Mkael Abrahams (DD), for his passionate floor speaking, and Alice Fleming (PP) for, among other things her staunch defence of the States (on more than one occasion), deserve mention.
Competition this year opened with an inglorious exit from the Mace in December. Laura Bender (GG) and James Acton (RR) had to oppose religions in schools, debating in a convent, against the convent - we finished third with two to qualify. But the year ended on a higher note when the same team qualified for the next round of the Cambridge Union competition, defending the House of Lords and the abolition of free education. We achieved the same result at the first round of the Oxford Union, but this time with Mohan Ganesalingam (QS) and James Acton proposing 'fighting for Queen and Country'. At the second round of Cambridge we faced the issue of the minimum wage and in spite of a valiant effort and some first rate debating from Laura, Westminster finished an agonisingly narrow second with one to qualify. The competitive season ended at the Oxford Union itself on finals day. We reached the last sixteen, and missed the next round by yet again one place, in spite of the most passionate case I have ever heard for talking to terrorists, advocated by Mohan. Jonathan Monroe (AH) and Tom Balogh (DD) got their first debate for the School on that occasion, dummying for another team who failed to turn up. Although I was not able to hear them I am assured they comfortably outspoke many of the more experienced pairings. Writing about competitions when results have been disappointing is hard enough without feeling that in some cases we were badly judged; cries of 'the judging was unfair' hold little weight with those who were not present, and will no doubt be seen by some as excuses. Yet on various occasions we faced judges ignoring some criteria clearly stated in the competition rules and iscriminating on other criteria nowhere to be seen on marking rules.
A friendly against St Paul's Girls (medical technology versus morality) saw Mohan, Laura and James team up with Frederick Van der Wyck (DD) in a enjoyable end of season clash. Frederick drew attention to himself through some stunning summing-ups in junior debating, and his maiden speech left nothing to be desired. He, Laura, Mohan and a few others form the nucleus of some promising pairings in future seasons. But my most enduring memory of this year will perhaps be Mohan's floor speech in the Mace, a speech which made quite an impression on all. Starting from the topic A Levels he crescendoed into a rant, imploring us with the fire and sword to forge a new world order...
James Acton (Rigaud's)
Many of this year's debating topics have been closely tied to current affairs. A controversial television debate on the monarchy prompted: 'This House would abolish the Monarchy', in which the final vote was reassuringly in bold opposition to the motion; 'This House supports the Single European Currency' was, by contrast, widely supported. The launch of Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party led to: 'This House believes in Representative Government' - the first of many motions to be influenced by the impending General Election. A political theme reappeared in, 'This House would rather Blur than Blair' - a hotly contested duel between the Junior and Senior debaters. The undoubted superior experience of the Seniors led to the triumph of pop music over political chicanery.
A review of our activities suggests that our overall views are in favour of a monarchical system in which politicians are suspect, alcohol welcome, more representative government is wanted and in which we prefer the Euro to Sterling.
The debaters are indebted to Gilly French and to Jonny White for their tuition, guidance and encouragement throughout a most enjoyable year.
Gerard Rothschild (Liddell's)