Jack’s Journey to the National Final of the Great Debate

Lower Sixth student Jack represented Bloxham at Windsor Castle in the Historical Association’s prestigious national public speaking competition. Jack’s achievement is a testament to his dedication, curiosity, and passion for uncovering untold stories. We are proud to celebrate his success and look forward to seeing where his historical journey takes him next.

Congratulations on reaching the national final of the Historical Association’s Great Debate! How did you feel when you found out you were going to compete at Windsor Castle?

I was excited to reach the final, especially at Windsor Castle. I was slightly nervous as I realised I would have to speak to around 50 people, which I hadn’t done so far in the competition. I was proud to have reached the final and to share the day with my Grandma and Mum, who had supported me throughout.

Your topic was ‘How can your local history tell a global story.’ What inspired you to choose Doreen Warriner’s story for your debate?

I asked Mr Batten if he had any suggestions and he told me there was someone local involved with the Kindertransport, which I had studied before. I then researched more and mentioned it to my Grandma, who was quite knowledgeable about Doreen’s actions. After realising how underappreciated she is, I was determined to share her incredible story.

Can you share more about Doreen Warriner’s contributions and why you believe her story is still relevant today?

Doreen Warriner helped establish the British Committee for Refugees in Czechoslovakia and worked alongside Nicholas Winton to rescue 669 children from Nazi persecution. She later initiated a wider evacuation effort, saving an estimated 15,000 lives, and went on to become a professor at UCL—an extraordinary achievement for a woman at that time. Nicholas has received great accolade for his efforts but Doreen is much less known, which is why I was so interested in telling her story.

What challenges did you face while preparing for the debate, and how did you overcome them?

Her contributions are not well documented. I found a book about her which was dense and difficult to read, but I focused on the relevant sections to make the process more efficient. There is limited information about her online.

Winning the local Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Northamptonshire heat and then the South of England heat is a remarkable achievement. What was your strategy for each stage of the competition?

For the first stage I was busy with A Level work and had to rush to finish my speech. I felt unprepared so my goal was just to get through to the next round. In the semi-final, I improved my speech and focused much more on delivery and impressing the judges with good public speaking techniques. In the final, I knew it was important to review the content, feel confident with the delivery and also be prepared to answer the questions which I knew the judges would ask.

How did you feel when you were invited to submit a written version of your speech for publication in ‘the Historian’ magazine?

I was very happy to share something I had put a lot of effort into and felt passionate about. It’s amazing that Doreen is buried in Bloxham churchyard with a very modest grave—most people would never know the enormous contribution she made to history.

What was the most memorable moment for you during the national final at Windsor Castle?

We had a guided tour of St George’s Chapel, which was fascinating. We got to see the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II and learnt about the history of the Chapel. I took my Mum and Grandma with me, and to spend time with them and feel their support was a very precious memory.

What are your future plans? Do you see yourself continuing to explore historical topics and perhaps pursuing a career related to history?

I want to study History and Politics at university before either going into journalism or maybe teaching history.

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