Connie Forster of Downend School in south Gloucestershire was crowned Gabbler of the Year 2017 at the 30th Grand Final Banquet of The Gabblers Club held in the Ballroom of The Bristol Hotel (www.doylecollection.com/bristol).
Connie was the first student from Downend to ever win the prestigious annual award, which gives young people the skills and confidence they require to speak clearly and effectively at public appearances. The competition is open to all first-year sixth form students at school in and around Bristol. Prior to last night’s Grand Final, all of the entrants had made three speeches that accounted for 50% of the votes; last night’s performance accounted for the second 50%.
Over 200 guests at the gala dinner heard Connie speak eloquently and amusingly on the subject of “Vulgar Fractions”, during which she mused on fitting in and not fitting in, with references to topics as diverse as bikinis and society.
In second place was Ignatius de Pedro of St Bede’s Catholic College, who gave a well-delivered talk on “The Bees Knees”, with third place going to Katherine Hamilton of Redmaids’ High School talking about “A Stitch in Time”. The prize for Most Improved Gabbler went to Olivia Mowl from St Mary Redcliffe & Temple School, with the prize for Best Speech on the Night going to Gabriel Marriage of Bristol Cathedral Choir School for his talk titled “Loose Change”.
The Gabbler of the Year event was set up in 1987 by David Geddes, then general manager of Clifton Hotels, and is “the foremost after dinner speaking experience for sixth form students” in the region. It is organised by The Gabblers Club, run entirely by volunteers, which exists only thanks to the generous sponsorship of The Bristol.
For more information about the Gabblers Club, visithttp://www.gabblers.co.uk/