to download Sidcot Summer Festival Programme - Sidcot School

The Dymond Speech Competition
The Dymond Speech Competition was instituted
in 1911 by a descendant of Henry Dymond, a pupil
at the school from 1810-1815 and subsequently
Headmaster of Sidcot from 1854-1864. Henry
Dymond was famed for his most impressive voice
and the prize was originally instituted as the Dymond
Elocution Prize, but is now for a speech given on a
subject of the student’s choice, judged for its content
and method of presentation. The Honours’ Boards,
listing winners of the competition since it was
instituted, are in place outside the Old Library and a
portrait of Henry Dymond hangs in the Old Library.
Each year a panel of three distinguished adjudicators assesses the speaking
skills of the finalists at a formal evening occasion, which precedes the school
Prize Giving. To commemorate the centenary celebration, we have invited three
past Dymond Speech Competition winners to adjudicate this year’s event.
The Judges:
Judge 1 (Chair) Nick Holding, Sidcot Old Scholars’ Association President
2012-2013
Judge 2 Katherine Bryan-Merrett, Dymond Speech Winner 2002
Judge 3 Natapong Kittipadungkul, Dymond Speech Winner 1999
Order of proceedings:
19.00 Dymond Speech Competition
The competition finalists will present their speeches and
audience members are invited to question the speakers
20.15 Refreshments in the Refectory while the judges meet to
adjudicate the speeches
20.35 Dymond Speech Competition winner is announced and
Prize Giving commences
21.15 Reception in The Old Library, by invitation
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Sidcot Summer Festival