A Sheldon School pupil scooped a best speaker prize in the Wiltshire heat of the Business and Professional Women Public Speaking at Bradford Leigh Hotel last month, competing against teams from across the county.

Isabella Smith hadn't been due to take part in the Southern England and Wales Semi-Final which took place at the Compass Inn, Tormarton on March 10, but a twist of fate meant that she was able to join fellow classmates Zoe Walters and Joe Walters, after Adam Baker was unable to take part in the event.

Isabella stepped in to join the team, which then went on to win the Silver Salver, and also won the cup for best performer and the right of all three to compete in the National Final of the competition to be held in Oswestry later this month.

The contest is a real challenge for the competitors because not only do they have to speak in public running a meeting as chairman, speaker and expresser of a vote of thanks, but the speaker leaves their own team to be introduced and thanked by a different team.

The competitors have half an hour to get to know the speaker from a different school and learn something about their subject.

The speaker is also required to take 3 or 4 questions from the audience – a stiff test for young performers.

The certificates awarded contribute towards English Speaking Board qualifications and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Zoe Walters confidently introduced Robert Lindsay, of the Cathedral School, Cardiff, whose subject was the Good Old Days and it was Joe Coombs task to thank him. It was a splendid performance by all three.

Isabella Smith joined Fatuma Jamal and Mariam Olatidoye from the Colston’s Girls’ School Bristol.

Telling little “White Lies” was the subject and Isabella delighted the audience with parents’ porky pies about how babies were made, the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny.

It was all the more realistic because her own parents were there and she caused great amusement when she refused to incriminate herself when asked what white lies she had told her parents.

The adjudicators marked each individual and then placed the marks back into their own school teams. Sheldon were placed first with Colston’s Girls’ School second.

All the schools taking part have a good record over the years for public speaking, and Sheldon’s teacher Mike Perry in particular prepares many teams and enters them in various competitions.

BPW President Sue Holtom presented the awards including a boxed salver and wished Zoe, Isabella and Joe every success in the National Final on March 31.