2005 Peter Parker

A few faces who are known to the conversation group did extremely well at this year's Sir Peter Parker Awards for Spoken Business Japanese, held at SOAS on 9th November 2005. We were thrilled when Mark Boyle won the first prize with his speech on "Life as a UK correspondent for a Japanese newspaper: challenges, rewards, and the media's role in UK-Japan". Mark had been to a number of events including the Tea Ceremony in September, and so we were able to root for him on the day. Our loyalties were not divided so much as just spread thinly at the contest, as our own long standing committee member Debbie Warrener and regular attendee Michael Smith were also participating. Fortunately for us, Debbie took third prize with her speech entitled "observations from building bridges between Japan and the UK to improve international aid"; and impressed everyone with her passionate delivery. Michael Smith also gave a fine performance with his speech "Horiemon: third time unlucky?", but was finally pipped to the post for a prize.

Photos of the brave few are attached (along with some hangers-on!). There are also a few familiar faces in the crowd, and the more obserevent among you will spot Captain Guy, Jones-sensei, Nick (without his glasses) and Satoru, not to mention many others

White wine all round. judges, contestants and supporters all relax afterwards.

Three familiar faces from the JCG -