TAVISTOCK Rotary Club proudly hosted the area finals of the Youth Speaks competition at Mount Kelly last week.

Teams from all over the South West held the audience spellbound with the quality of their speeches and their self-assured answers to difficult questions.

Against stiff opposition, two junior teams succeeded in getting through to the district final, being held in Newquay.

Tavistock Community Primary?School team — Daisy Dodson, Toby Alcock Chapple and Charlie Stanton — kept the audience fascinated with their description of ‘A day in the life of a school bag’ and Cornish team Mahala Osborne, Cody Lee and Jessica Whitford, from Nanpean Junior School, asked the age-old question ‘Is bigger always better?’

The two successful intermediate teams were Saltash.net Community College with ‘Do we really talk enough about mental health issues?’ and St Austell’s Penrice Academy with ‘Pink pliers, please’, who will progress to their district finals at Marjon.

Tavistock Mayor Mandy Ewings and Tavistock Rotary Club president Catherine Bailey presented all contestants with certificates.

Catherine Bailey said: ‘It’s hard to believe that the standard reached by these young people could improve every year, but it does. Their families, friends and schools can be immensely proud of them and I wish all four teams the very best of luck in the district finals.’

• Pictured are the officials and the winners of the Youth Speaks competition. Picture by James Bird.