arguing skills to test when they prepare to be trained by a world-class debating coach from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Mark Malcolmson, coach of England's 1992 World Debating Championship team will be conducting training workshops at secondary schools across the Island.

Mr. Malcolmson, 28, has held the position of President of the Debating Society at Edinburgh University and has been the recipient of a debating scholarship to the United States touring for 10 weeks in 20 states.

"He joins the ranks of such esteemed predecessors as the former UK Prime Minister, Edward Heath, and four former UK Cabinet Ministers who have won debating scholarships to tour the US,'' a Bermuda Debate Society spokesperson said.

"After meeting him at the recent World Championship, the Bermuda Debate Society extended an invitation to observe individual debating instruction that is offered in several of our secondary schools.'' Mr. Malcolmson is scheduled to meet debating teams and their coaches at Sandy's Secondary, Warwick Secondary, Warwick Academy, Bermuda High School, Saltus, Berkeley, Mount St. Agnes, Northlands and Whitney.

"He will guide the trainers and their students through some of the more technical points of debate.

"Also while he's here he will oversee a training session for judges in preparation for the Bermuda Junior Service League and the Society's Annual Secondary Schools Debating School,'' the spokesperson said.

The sessions for first-time judges starts at 9.30 a.m and for experienced Judges at 2.30 p.m. at the Berkeley Institute this Saturday.

There will also be a short debate on Friday at 4 p.m. at the Mount St. Agnes auditorium between teams comprising students from the nine participating schools.