St Bede’s Sixth Form A-level student Daniel Callaghan from Altrincham has just won the National Public Speaking competition organised by the Catenian Association. In the contest, held at the Manchester University Conference Centre on Sunday 20th September, Daniel overcame twelve regional finalists from all over the UK to win the prestigious trophy.
Daniel has already won a number of regional awards for his public speaking but this is the first time he has captured a national trophy. English teacher Maureen Hazell, who has helped prepare Daniel for his Public Speaking competitions commented, ”Daniel is a very stylish public speaker who is particularly skilled in connecting with his audience. It has been a pleasure to help him prepare for these competitions, in which he has been competing for a number of years. His success in so many important contests in his last year at the College has been very gratifying. This most recent victory, just before he starts his university career, is particularly pleasing. I know he has some political ambitions and these experiences will stand him in good stead for the future.
Daniel has just finished studying A-level French, Spanish and Ancient History and has won a place at Christ Church, Oxford, a college which, incidentally, has produced thirteen British Prime Ministers. Daniel was delighted to win the national competition and admitted that he always found it hard to assess his own performance. “Honestly, I’m just pleased to come out of these things alive. Public speaking is a nerve racking process, but something that you can look back on fondly if it goes well. The help I have received from St Bede’s has been fantastic especially from Maureen Hazell in the English department.”
Daniel has decided to spend his prize money on joining the Oxford Union, where generations of famous politicians and raconteurs have polished their oratorical skills.
