Objects of Substance – The Merle Weaver Prize for Public Spe

1918, Head Mistress Annie Mackay's glowing report on new-hire Merle Weaver in the Staff Confidential report

Prize winner Professor Howells recalls that it was her ‘adored English mistress’, Miss Alexis MacMillan, who first encouraged her to enter the prestigious competition, echoing the uplifting actions of Miss Weaver before her. It is particularly telling that Professor Howells — she who would one day become Professor Emerita at the University of Reading and Senior Research Fellow at the University of London —chose to inspire and uplift her cohort with a speech about the ‘power of language and the art of public sp eaking’.

Emeritus Professor Coral Howells

I am proud to say that my own name is listed with Professor Howells’ on the Merle Weaver winners archive, nestled amongst a rather gratifying number of future teachers, doctors, and professors.