The six finalists at the John Fry Public Speaking Competition, held in the Clarissa Farr Theatre on Wednesday 27 February, gave remarkably self-assured performances. Each had to speak for five minutes on a given topic in front of a packed audience of girls, parents and staff, and answer challenging questions from the floor.

Our guest adjudicator, novelist Antonia Honeywell, found it a real challenge to select a winner, but ultimately the trophy was awarded to Tamyah Jones (Lower Sixth).

• Lily Lazarus – What age is old?
• Aoife Grant-Stevenson – Is handwriting obsolete?
• Tamyah Jones – Would we be in trouble if the internet stopped working?
• Amaka Onyeagwara – Is happiness in short supply?
• Clara Mee – What is the biggest lie adults tell you?
• Mia Lasocki – Will you ever be totally forgotten?