The boy done good!

The Three Squirrells at Tim’s Union Farewell Dinner

2014 was a great year for Tim, with his attaining a Double First in Natural Sciences and his election  as President of the Union for Michaelmas Term, where he was responsible for managing a substantial budget and an enthusiastic team to present some pretty amazing debates.

Ann and I had the great privilege of attending the last in the series “This House believes the UK should be run by scientists” in which Tim made the Proposition for the motion. Sadly for Tim but probably fortunately for the Country, the proposition was defeated not least due to the well rounded argument against from Lord Robert Winston. Nonetheless, it was a tremendous experience for us that evening and for Tim that entire term. He seems to have done a lot of growing up in that time. With responsibility comes maturity of course.

I’m writing this in that quiet time between Christmas and New Year when the business emails come almost to a standstill and I finally get the chance to catch up on a few personal things. Tim’s with us for a few days so we’re enjoying his company and conversation. That’s when he’s not deep into his research for his remaining MSc work and his PhD application.

I wonder what his New Year’s resolution will be?

Update on Cambridge wins debate about Germany abandoning Europe

The motion was ‘This House believes that Germany should let Europe die’,

which Cambridge Union, the Cambridge University debating society, successfully opposed against a team from Princeton university. 

The Cambridge team – in which my son Tim is a member – won the GRANDE FINALE debate that took place last Thursday night at Sciences Po’s major amphitheatre in Paris.

In Tim’s words, straight off his Facebook site “Absolutely delighted to have won the Transatlantic Debating Competition tonight, massive thanks to Peter Morrissey, Lee Jia Wei and Michael Dunn Goekjian for being such wonderful teammates, as well as Rebecca Meredith for making it happen. Had a fantastic time in Paris, looking forward to getting up at 5.30 to leave this fair city.”

Before anyone thinks to brand Tim or indeed Cambridge xenophobic I would like to point out that these debates are about the debating skills of the teams rather than whether or not they actually agree with the motion. The debate was carried out in French Debating Association style, which is less analytical and more rhetorical.

Check out the TRANSATLANTIC DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIP website for further details.

Cambridge wins debate about Germany abandoning Europe

TRANSATLANTIC DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIP

I recently blogged about Tim taking part in a prestigious international debate  covering some rather contentious issues.

I’m delighted to report that Tim’s team won the GRANDE FINALE debate that took place last night at Sciences Po’s major amphitheater in Paris.

In Tim’s words, straight off his Facebook site “Absolutely delighted to have won the Transatlantic Debating Competition tonight, massive thanks to Peter Morrissey, Lee Jia Wei and Michael Dunn Goekjian for being such wonderful teammates, as well as Rebecca Meredith for making it happen. Had a fantastic time in Paris, looking forward to getting up at 5.30 to leave this fair city.”

Cambridge was one of the two victorious semi-finalist teams who faced one another to debate the motion “This House Believes GERMANY SHOULD LET EUROPE DIE“.

At the time of writing I’ve been unable to ascertain whether Cambridge was proposing or opposing the motion. However, before anyone thinks to brand Tim or indeed Cambridge axenophobic I would like to point out that these debates are about the debating skills of the teams rather than whether or not they actually agree with the motion.

Check out the TRANSATLANTIC DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIP website for further details.