Since September 2015, hundreds of school children have taken part in the national joke-telling competition, Voice Box. Twenty made it through to the final at the Speaker’s House, Westminster in London on 2 March. One of them was local schoolboy Logan John Ferguson from South Shields.
Logan John, age 11, who attends Harton Primary School in South Shields, delighted the packed audience of politicians, parents and children with his joke:
“Why couldn’t the pirate play cards? Because he was sitting on the deck!”
Logan, who was presented with a certificate, said: “I’m known for being a joker at school and home, but I’m a bit nervous.”
Speaking about what he wants to be when he grows up, he said he would like to be a comedian or an illustrator.
Voice Box is an annual competition, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and partnered by The Communication Trust. It aims to remind people that there are children in every classroom who need support to help them speak and understand what is being said to them.
Nearly 20% of the population may experience communication difficulties at some point in their lives.
7% of children aged about five years have specific speech and language impairment and a further 1.8% have speech, language and communication needs linked to other conditions, such as learning disability, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorders.
Speaking after the event Emma said:
“Logan’s joke was fantastic; a true comedian in the making. I was so proud to share the same stage with him. Well done Logan.”
