Michael Buerk to chair Big Debate at Solihull School

Top BBC presenter Michael Buerk is to return to his old school to chair Solihull’s inaugural Big Debate.

The chairman of BBC Radio 4’s ethical debating programme, The Moral Maze, and former Nine O’Clock News presenter who was a pupil at the independent co-educational school in Warwick Road from 1955 to 1965, will be chairing the prestigious event in the Bushell Hall on Thursday, June 19th from 6.30 to 8.00pm.
Pupils, parents and friends of the School are being invited to hear Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP propose the motion ‘This house believes that rich nations (G20) should strive to meet the UN guideline of giving 0.7% of their GDP to the poorest’.

Adam Hawksbee, President of Sheffield University’s Debating Society, will oppose the motion in the ‘Mace’-style debate that will include opportunities for questions from the floor. Tickets for the event are available by contacting Tracey Duggan at [email protected] or by calling 0121 703 2883.

Michael Buerk has also become the new Patron of Solihull Debating Society, one of the largest school debating societies in the country with more than 250 members. He commented: “It should be fun to go back to chair a debate for the Debating Society at my old school, where I was such an indifferent debater myself half a century ago!”

Alison Bond, Development and Alumni Relations Director, said: “We are delighted that such a distinguished alumnus as Michael Buerk has agreed to take part in what we hope will become a keenly anticipated annual event in the school calendar.”