As part of “My Dying Wish” campaign the NHS teamed up with The Sunday Times and the Speakers Club, Glasgow, to run a Speechmaking Competition (Glasgow Cup) for Glasgow schools. Pupils were invited to write a speech based on a list of topics and present these speeches at Glasgow’s distinguished City Chambers. A host of dignitaries formed part of the audience as well as the panel of judges, including the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sadie Docherty, who introduced the event.

Five schools contended the coveted cup and the standard of speechwriting and delivery was incredibly high. All pupils delivered impressive speeches ranging in topic from allowing smokers to donate their organs to paying donors for their organs. No-one was left in any doubt as to the level of work produced. In fact, as the Lord Provost herself said, there may even be a future Lord Provost amongst the candidates. The standard was so high the judges took an extra 15 minutes to debate the final winner, who was Megan Green from Lourdes Secondary School. Her chosen topic was ‘Whose wishes should be respected regarding organ donation – that of the dying patient or the family?” The judges were impressed with the quality of the speech, and in particular Megan’s ability to draw in her audience by recounting a personal story and her effective use of pause to allow the audience to take in what had been said.

The event was a testimony to the high level of commitment and skill by pupils to this important and often controversial subject, and although the audience may not have left in complete agreement on the issues raised, they were certainly in agreement that the pupils were an asset to themselves and their school.