ESU Debating Society

News: October 2005

The English-Speaking Union’s Dartmouth House Debating Society is one of the oldest and largest in the capital, and is the country’s premier forum for members of the public and invited guests from the worlds of politics, journalism and public life to debate topical issues in a formal setting.

This year the English-Speaking Union’s Centre for Speech and Debate is re-launching the Debating Society, aiming to maintain and improve the quality of debates whilst allowing members of the Society to take a more active role in the debates themselves and in the setting of topics.

From November this year we are reinstating formal membership of the Society, open only to full members of the English-Speaking Union. Formal membership includes the opportunity to attend and vote in the Society’s AGM, where the Chairman for that year will be elected and topics for debate chosen; to suggest and invite guest speakers to take part in debates; to speak in debates; and to attend a free workshop in debating at the start of each season.

Attendance at the debates will remain free and open to the general public, but we hope by re-introducing membership to encourage even greater participation and to continue the Society’s proud history.

For more information please contact Vivienne Thomson, 020 7529 1550, or at vivienne_thomson@esu.org.