Over the decades there have been some quirky and rather pertinent  topics for discussion including:
 
·         “The Court of the Grand Phoenix hereby charge the Rolling Stones with wilfully corrupting modern youth."
·         “One should be patriotic to Europe rather than to Britain”
·         “ The British attitudes to refugees is deplorable”
·         “America should never have been discovered”
 
Today it is a thriving debating group and a Phoenix Society Tie is still a most coveted possession among  sixth formers.
 
The inaugural OWBA V WBS Phoenix Society debate and dinner in the Karslake Hall proved to be an evening of lively topical discussion.
 
“This house would neither retain nor replace the Trident nuclear deterrent” (OWBA opposing)
Last year’s Phoenix Society President, Sam Davies (09-16F) and Vice President of the OWBA Col Ian Blewett (72-77G) were most vociferous in their arguments to keep Trident and pupils Rudi Small (current President) and Matt Gentle were equally impassioned about disposing of the deterrent.
Questions and comments from the floor were challenging, insightful and entertaining.
Motion won by the opposition, speeches by the proposition.
It was a superb evening and special thanks goes to Mr Jonathan  Ralph for his live Twitter feed.
Phoenix fact 1 –
Romance blossomed between Rachel Kilburn (80-82F) and Rob Withecombe (73-82F) at their first debate with the Phoenix Society many years ago when they were on opposite sides on 'corporal punishment is unjustified' Rachel won the debate but Rob won her heart and they later married.