Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street
London, SE11 4AB, United Kingdom
Telephone: (020) 7091 7091
Fax: (020) 7820 3131
Email: information@spuc.org.uk

• abortion
• human cloning
• stem cell research
• SPUC Facebook group
• The Robin McNair Prize
  • 2009 Robin McNair prize ceremony, 13 January 2010

The Robin McNair Prize

Introduction

Young people in school-years 10 to 13 (and who are aged 14 to 18) can win cash prizes for themselves and their schools by writing essays about issues affecting the sanctity of life. The Robin McNair Prize commemorates one of Britain's leading fighter pilots in the Second World War. After the war Squadron Leader McNair fought for the rights of the unborn through his membership of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). This competition is jointly sponsored by the SPUC Educational Research Trust and the McNair family. Click here to see a video about the prize.

Robin McNair

Squadron Leader Robin McNair completed nearly 500 missions with the RAF, including:

• operations during the Battle of Britain
• night-fighter flights during the blitz
• attacks on enemy bases and rocket sites
• the Dieppe raid
• D-day.

He was also among the leaders of the Death and Glory operations, in which Typhoon fighters carried bombs across the English Channel.

Robin McNair, who rose quickly from aircraftsman to squadron leader, was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was then appointed one of the youngest acting wing commanders in the Second World War. He upheld the memory of those who lost their lives on both sides and, when hostilities ended, Squadron Leader McNair spent many years helping refugees on the continent.

Soon after abortion was made legal in Britain, Robin McNair joined the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children and fought for the most defenceless members of society.

More biographical information is here.

Taking part in the competition involves writing an essay on one of three subjects. Competitors must choose one of these titles for their essay:

• Discuss whether you think that abortion is an acceptable option in an unplanned pregnancy.
• Is abortion justified if the unborn baby has a disability?
• Is a human embryo a potential human life or a human life with potential?

Prizes

The prizes consist of:

• First prize of £250 for the competitor and another £250 for his or her school
• Second prize of £150 for the competitor and another £150 for his or her school
• Third prize of £100 for the competitor and another £100 for his or her school

Rules

1. The competition is open to young people who are in school years 10 to 13 (and who are aged 14 to 18) on a date specified for each year's competition. Entrants do not need to be attending school but they must be of an appropriate age.
2. Entries must be submitted through a school and must reach the address on the entry form by a date specified for each year's competition.
3. Each essay must be accompanied by a completed entry form, which contains details of other rules.
4. Essays must be of between 1,000 and 1,500 words and can include pictures, graphs and other types of illustration.
5. The schools to which the winners belong will need to satisfy SPUC that the money which those establishments receive will be used for genuine educational purposes, such as the provision of books or learning equipment.

Judges

The panel of judges, whose decision will be final, will be drawn from representatives of the spheres of education, politics and the voluntary sector, as well as the McNair family.

Presentation of prizes

Prizes will be presented in London. Winners' reasonable travel expenses within the UK will be paid.

Report and photographs of this year's prize-giving