TWO Thurrock school pupils represented the borough at the regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out challenge.
Anne-Marie Kankam, 15, from the Harris Academy, Chafford Hundred, came second, while Grays Convent High School pupil Fega Fayefunmi, 15, was commended by judges for her speech after stepping in at the last minute.
Fega’s speech, titled Why Do We Ask Questions, came in for special praise from judges.
A letter to her school from Elaine Powell, regional co–ordinator of the Speakers Trust, said: “I would like to offer our congratulations to Fega for not only stepping in at the last minute, which takes a huge amount of courage, but also for her outstanding speech performance. Her delivery was outstanding, she has a natural flair and the content was divine.”
Thurrock deputy mayor, councillor Sue Gray, along with the Castle Point mayor, councillor Jackie Govier, presented the awards to the winners at the event which took place at Castle View School, Canvey.
