Front: Michael Fabricant MP with Samantha Fryer, Holly Harrison and Alice Nettleship from King Edward VI School and Jazmin Anslow who won the best overall speaker prize. Back row: Simon Price, Judith Derrick, Cllr Bernard Derrick, Cllr Brian Bacon, Cllr Norma Bacon, Robin Jones, Dr Neville Brown, John Cox, Mrs Drinkwater and Cllr Eric Drinkwater. Pic: Allan Williamson
Front: Michael Fabricant MP with Samantha Fryer, Holly Harrison and Alice Nettleship from King Edward VI School and Jazmin Anslow who won the best overall speaker prize. Back row: Simon Price, Judith Derrick, Cllr Bernard Derrick, Cllr Brian Bacon, Cllr Norma Bacon, Robin Jones, Dr Neville Brown, John Cox, Mrs Drinkwater and Cllr Eric Drinkwater. Pic: Allan Williamson
Front: Michael Fabricant MP with Samantha Fryer, Holly Harrison and Alice Nettleship from King Edward VI School and Jazmin Anslow who won the best overall speaker prize. Back row: Simon Price, Judith Derrick, Cllr Bernard Derrick, Cllr Brian Bacon, Cllr Norma Bacon, Robin Jones, Dr Neville Brown, John Cox, Mrs Drinkwater and Cllr Eric Drinkwater. Pic: Allan Williamson
Front: Michael Fabricant MP with Samantha Fryer, Holly Harrison and Alice Nettleship from King Edward VI School and Jazmin Anslow who won the best overall speaker prize. Back row: Simon Price, Judith Derrick, Cllr Bernard Derrick, Cllr Brian Bacon, Cllr Norma Bacon, Robin Jones, Dr Neville Brown, John Cox, Mrs Drinkwater and Cllr Eric Drinkwater. Pic: Allan Williamson

Lichfield’s King Edward VI School scooped the top prize at a speaking competition in the city.

Debating the controversial issue of whether organ donation registers should become an opt-out system, students from four schools took part in the discussion at Lichfield Guildhall.

It is the 18th year that the Michael Fabricant MP-Arthur Price of England Schools Speaking Competition has taken place.

The best overall speaker title went to Chase Terrace Technology College’s Jazmin Anslow.

“This was an incredibly topical debate,” said Mr Fabricant. “Although the subject of the debate was determined months ago, the Government are only now considering proposals to do just this.

“Speakers in the competition pointed out that while over 90 per cent of the population are in favour of organ donation after death, only around 20 per cent of the population have bothered to register.  A straw poll of the audience in the Guildhall in Lichfield after the debate took place revealed that while almost all those present were in favour of organ donation, only one third had actually registered.  And around two-thirds favoured a swap from an opt-in to an opt-out system of organ donation.

“The standard of debate was extremely high and fully engaged the audience.  The debate in some cases was as high as that in the House of Commons and considerably politer!

“I am particularly grateful to Lichfield City Council for providing the refreshments and all the pomp and ceremony required to emulate a House of Commons sitting.  And thanks too are due to Rotary Club of Lichfield St Chad for their assistance.”

People can register to become organ donors at www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.