All students at the Treloyhan School of Speech and Drama in Mansfield gained distinction in their grade examinations and honours in the medal exams — the highest awards that could be achieved.

Principal Ann Jones said she was also thrilled that all three diploma candidates gained honours with more than 90 marks.

Ann was speaking at the presentaton of awards at Mansfield Methodist Church on Nottingham Road, where she welcomed parents and students, as well as guest of honour Adrian Jones and his wife, Lorraine.

Ann said it had been a busy year for her. Last September she spent several periods in hospital and in November underwent a heart operation.

That meant there was no Christmas concert or examinations at that time, although students did prepare for the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival and were among the prizewinners.

One, Dimithi Bartholomeuz, performed at the festival centenary dinner, and winners concert.

She received the new President’s Award from the festival’s figurehead, Jim Kay, a former West Nottinghamshire College student who illustrated Harry Potter novels.

Dimithi was also presented with a copy of a Harry Potter book, containing additional illustrations drawn personally by Jim.

Four other Treloyhan students — Anagi Bartholomeuz, Jarvis Cobb, Sienna Sivan, and Minal Noor — performed in the winners concert and received special trophies.

Ann asked her students to perform a variety of poems, prose speaking and reading, and acting solos to show some of their examination work at the awards evening.

Adrian congratulated students on achieving such a high standard in their examinations.

He encouraged them to continue with their studies because they were developing lifeskills, and he thanked parents for appreciating the value of lessons. It not only helped them to develop memory skills, but also gave them assurance when communicating.

Adrian remembered that as a child he had been very shy, but studying speech and drama gave him the ability to speak in public. He also gained a great deal of enjoyment from performing in festivals.

Awards were presented by Adrian to:

ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS AMATEUR DRAMA AWARDS
Public Speaking
Junior Gold Medal: Dimithi Bartholomeuz, Tanvi Khanna (honours). Senior Bronze Medal: Anagi Bartholomeuz, Archana Sivanantham (honours). Senior Gold Medal: Minal Noor, Sienna Sivan (honours).
Reading
Junior Silver Medal: Clarissa Jajawi (honours). Junior Gold Medal: Aditya Puri (honours).
Acting
Junior Gold Medal: Daniel Benjamin (honours).

NEW ERA ACADEMY
Grade 3: Clarissa Jajawi (distinction). Grade 5: Dimithi Bartholomeuz, Tanvi Khanna (distinction). Grade 6: Jarvis Cobb (distinction). Grade 7: Anagi Bartholomeuz, Archana Sivanatham, Jacob Thomas (distinction).
Grade 7 Recital: Daniel Benjamin (distinction). Grade 8 Recital: Alex Barish (distinction).

VICTORIA COLLEGE OF MUSIC & SPEECH
Associate Diploma: Alex James Barish, Minal Noor, Siena Sivan (honours).

TROPHIES PRESENTED FOR EFFORT
Senior Trophy: Anagi Bartholomeuz. Special Senior Award: Daniel Benjamin.