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The Swallowcliffe Debating Society
The Swallowcliffe Debating
Society is currently taking a break - we might well get together
on an occasional basis to discuss interesting and important subjects
so please feel free to register
on the mailing list.
Doors open at 20:00 - debate starts at 20:30
Our last debate was
Fame is overpaid
Fame is undoubtedly well paid (in some cases) but
are the disadvantages outweighed by the money?
There were several arguments for and against
The evening ended with a 3 minute debate "Christmas
is irrelevant in a multicultural society"
Both debates were great fun and prompted much discussion
which, in the true spirit of the society, continued for quite some
time in The Royal Oak afterwards
If you click here
then we will notify you before each meeting.
Or check the Swallowcliffe
diary
Contact us by telephone :
(01747) 858016
(08:30-18:00 Mon-Fri)
Or email :
Chris@swallowcliffe.com
Aims
Our aim is to have fun over a glass of wine (bring your own) in
the village hall. We want to bring villagers (young and old) together
and get a lively discussion going without any animosity. You
are welcome to attend without speaking. We will hold a variety
of debates including:
- Standard debate - two speakers for and two against the
motion
- Balloon debates - last speaker in the balloon wins (vote
after each short speech)
- Court cases - retrial of a controversial court case
- 6 minute debates - only two speakers (3 minutes each)
- Topical debate - a topical issue chosen a few nights
before the meeting
- Opposite debate - volunteers will debate a topic from
their opponent's viewpoint
- Lucky dip - short debate drawn from the hat
- Lier's debate - one of the arguments is complete fiction
- audience decides who is telling the truth
Rules
The debate begins with a definition of the motion by the chairman.
This is followed by the first proposer speaking for up to 5 minutes.
The first opposer then gets up to five minutes followed by the 2nd
proposer and 2nd opposer (up to 4 mins each). The debate is then
opened up to the floor (no more than three minutes per speaker).
The opposer and proposer then have three minutes to sum up their
case. Finally the chairman conducts a vote and a winner is declared.
Debates (past and future)
We meet on an occasional basis at the Swallowcliffe Village Hall
- everyone is welcome
| Date |
Day |
Motion |
Y
|
N
|
?
|
Chairman |
| 30, Dec 2005 |
Fri |
Fame is overpaid |
3
|
3
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 30, DEC 2005 |
Fri |
3 min - Christmas
is irrelevant in a multicultural society |
3
|
3
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 28, Oct 2005 |
Fri |
Stem Cell research is morally
justified |
14
|
1
|
1
|
Ralph Husband |
| 28, Oct 2005 |
Fri |
3 min- Old people have worse manners
than the young |
0
|
3
|
13
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 26, Aug 2005 |
Fri |
The arts suffer from public funding |
4
|
15
|
2
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 26, Aug 2005 |
Fri |
Balloon debate - best piece of
art (Winner Picasso's Guernica) |
|
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 24, Jun 2005 |
Fri |
Was Tony Martin guilty? - the
case revisited |
5
|
30
|
1
|
Judge Anne Ralphs |
| 29, Apr 2005 |
Fri |
Question Time - with local politicians |
|
|
|
David Bright |
| 25, Feb 2005 |
Fri |
America is an effective World
policeman |
9
|
6
|
1
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 25, Feb 2005 |
Fri |
Lucky dip debate - Camila would
make a good Queen |
8
|
7
|
1
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 26, Nov 2004 |
Fri |
Smoking in public buildings should
be banned |
8
|
5
|
|
Rod Wright |
| 29, Oct 2004 |
Fri |
We need more regional government |
3
|
11
|
|
Brian Stevens |
| 24, Sep 2004 |
Fri |
Cancelled due to harvest supper |
|
|
|
N/A |
| 27, Aug 2004 |
Fri |
We have too many Bank Holidays |
4
|
2
|
|
None |
| 30, Jul 2004 |
Fri |
It is wrong to eat animals |
8
|
13
|
|
Richard Thompson |
| 25, Jun 2004 |
Fri |
Cancelled due to lack of a quorum |
|
|
|
N/A |
| 28, May 2004 |
Fri |
Censorship is an outdated concept |
7
|
4
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 30, APR 2004 |
Fri |
Re-examination of the Hutton report |
|
|
|
Judge Anne Ralphs |
| 26, Mar 2004 |
Fri |
It is time for Britain to leave
Europe |
12
|
4
|
|
Louise Atkins |
| 26, Mar 2004 |
Fri |
State sponsored murder can sometimes
be justified |
12
|
4
|
|
Louise Atkins |
| 27, Feb 2004 |
Fri |
Government targets help |
3
|
9
|
|
TBA |
| 27, Feb 2004 |
Fri |
Television is a curse |
6
|
4
|
|
TBA |
| 30, Jan 2004 |
Fri |
Balloon debate (best New Year
resolution)(winner Branson away) |
|
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 30, Jan 2004 |
Fri |
Britain's honours
system needs a complete rethink |
6
|
7
|
|
Jo Grant |
| 26, DEC 2003 |
Fri |
Cancelled due to lack
of a quorum |
|
|
|
N/A |
| 28, Nov 2003 |
Fri |
Parliament should
repeal 25% of laws |
8
|
3
|
3
|
JO Grant |
| 28, Nov 2003 |
Fri |
It was right to retire
Concorde |
8
|
5
|
1
|
JO Grant |
| 31, Oct 2003 |
Fri |
It is time to give
up remembering war |
0
|
11
|
2 |
David Brown |
| 26, Sep 2003 |
Fri |
Britain is full |
10
|
8
|
|
JO Grant |
| 29, Aug 2003 |
Fri |
A and O levels are too easy |
8
|
5
|
|
Malcom Rothwell |
| 25, Jul 2003 |
Fri |
Equality for women is undesirable |
12
|
8
|
|
John Edgley |
| 27, Jun 2003 |
Fri |
The UK and USA were right to liberate
Iraq. |
|
|
|
|
| 30, May 2003 |
Fri |
Re-examination of a controversial
legal case - Michael Stone |
|
|
|
Anne Ralphs |
| 25, APR 2003 |
Fri |
Students should pay for their
education |
7
|
11
|
|
Ralph Husband |
| 25, APR 2003 |
Fri |
Youngsters are less capable of
entertaining themselves now |
|
|
|
Ralph Husband |
| 28, Mar 2003 |
Fri |
We are taking the wrong actions
to defeat Global Warming |
4
|
8
|
2
|
Louise Atkins |
| 28, Mar 2003 |
Fri |
Britain has delusions of grandeur |
1
|
15
|
|
Louise Atkins |
| 28, Feb 2003 |
Fri |
Road tolls make sense |
2
|
9
|
0
|
Nigel Oates |
| 28, Feb 2003 |
Fri |
Balloon debate (best car)(winner
Rover 3500s P6) |
|
|
|
David Brown |
| 31, Jan 2003 |
Fri |
War with Iraq is inevitable |
12
|
5
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 31, Jan 2003 |
Fri |
Indecision is good |
2
|
7
|
8
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 27, DEC 2002 |
Fri |
Christmas should be
abolished |
1
|
25
|
|
Father Xmas |
| 27, DEC 2002 |
Fri |
Balloon debate (Father Christmas,
Scrooge etc.) |
|
|
|
Father Xmas |
| 12, DEC 2002 |
Thu |
GM crops should be allowed in
Britain |
5
|
18
|
1
|
John Edgley |
| 12, DEC 2002 |
Thu |
Balloon debate (a vegetable) -
winner was Leek |
|
|
|
John Edgley |
| 22, Nov 2002 |
Fri |
The BBC should no longer be supported
by a licence fee |
9
|
18
|
|
Mike Barclay |
| 22, Nov 2002 |
Fri |
British TV is the best in the
World (6 minute) |
22
|
5
|
|
Mike Barclay |
| 14, Nov 2002 |
Thu |
Court - Barry George was innocent
(Jill Dando) |
10
|
2
|
|
Anne Ralphs |
| 14, Nov 2002 |
Thu |
Mickey Mouse would make a good
president |
|
|
|
Anne Ralphs |
| 25, Oct 2002 |
Fri |
Fireworks should be outlawed |
9
|
12
|
0
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 25, Oct 2002 |
Fri |
Balloon debate (a firework) -
winner was Sparklers |
12
|
6
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 10, Oct 2002 |
Thu |
British licensing laws are outdated |
9
|
4
|
|
Joe Duthie |
| 10, Oct 2002 |
Thu |
Balloon debate (A drink) - winner
was Whisky |
|
|
|
Joe Duthie |
| 27, Sep 2002 |
Fri |
Protest is a good way to change
Government & public opinions |
12
|
10
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 27, Sep 2002 |
Fri |
British is best |
8
|
14
|
|
Chris Stanbury |
| 12, Sep 2002 |
Thu |
NO DEBATE (Swallowcliffe Society
Outing) |
|
|
|
|
| 23, Aug 2002 |
Fri |
This house would reform the second
chamber |
7
|
13
|
2
|
Hope Elletson |
| 23, Aug 2002 |
Fri |
Society would benefit from more
debate (6 minute) |
9
|
12
|
1
|
Hope Elletson |
Swallowcliffe Debating Society was started in August
2002 by Chris Stanbury
and Mike Barclay.
Doors open at 20:00 - debate starts 20:30 (sharp).
See the diary for future events
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