The moral high ground prevailed in the Elizabethan Union’s 48th Annual Dinner Debate.
OEs Richard Alam (2002-2009) and Jamie Sherman (2002-2009) beat current Year 12 boys Kiran Modi and Surya Bowyer by successfully defeating the motion This House believes that cheats prosper.
The Headmaster said: “It was a splendid evening, with good food and a high standard of debate. I greatly enjoyed the chance to catch up with a number of old boys.
“As well as being an enjoyable social occasion, the Dinner Debate also provides Year 12 boys on the threshold of adulthood with a valuable opportunity to participate in a formal dining and debating occasion: we are always grateful to the alumni who support it.”
The keenly contested debate began with the traditional toasts to the Queen and ‘The Pious Memory of Queen Elizabeth I’. Captain of School Nikhil Patel then proposed a toast to the ‘Visitors’ (the OEs), with Gary Batistoni (OE 1962-1969) following suit with a toast to the Elizabethan Union.
As usual, the winners were decided by comparing the results of a vote before the debate with the results of one conducted afterwards: whichever side successfully persuades more people to change their minds – and thus ‘gains’ the most votes – wins the debate.
Nisha Mayer, teacher in charge of debating, said: “The debate chairman, Ben Collins, called it a large majority in favour of the resolution dropping to a small majority in favour. As such the OEs, who were opposing the motion, won.”
She pointed out, however, that in absolute terms, at the end of the night there were still more votes for than against the view that cheats prosper!
The evening began with a three-course dinner, with menu choices including falafel with a yoghurt dip, spiced chicken tagine with chickpeas & apricots and tarte aux pommes with cream.