A FIERCELY competitive battle of Town Criers from across the nation was hosted in Bromsgrove over the weekend as the town’s crier celebrated a momentous personal milestone.
The National Town Crier Championship, hosted by Bromsgrove’s ever present crier Kevin Ward, welcomed 25 criers from across the UK and even one from Australia on Saturday (June 14) to battle it out for a trophy in friendly competition.
Following a procession of all the competitors, joined by the Bailiff and members of the Bromsgrove Court Leet, the first cry “My Home Town” was heard in Bromsgrove High Street.
Each competitor then performed two rounds of cries, one of which had to focus on their own home town. The cries were heard by many onlookers and scored by seven judges.
There was a break for lunch where Criers mingled with shoppers and enjoyed lunch at a café or restaurant of their choice, thanks to sponsorship from the Bromsgrove Society.
After lunch it was all aboard a vintage Midland Red bus courtesy of the Transport Museum at Wythall for a journey to Avoncroft Museum.
On the steps at the back of Guesten Hall, overlooking the site, the second round of the Championship was held. The cry was titled “Why Visit Museums?”, very fitting for the setting.
All the criers had clearly gone to a lot of trouble with their outfits and their words, and the judges had a difficult job deciding on who would be crowned champion.
At 5pm, after a full day in the glorious sunshine, the winners were announced and the trophies handed out, with local dignitaries present to hand out the awards.
The Carole Williams Trophy for the Best Ambassador was awarded by chairman of Bromsgrove District Council, councillor Samuel Evans to Studley Town Crier, Adrian Smith.
Town Crier Paul Gough, from Nuneaton & Bedworth, presented the trophy to the Championship in memory of his late partner Carole Williams, who has also been a town crier.
MP for Bromsgrove, Bradley Thomas handed out trophies for the best four criers – judged based on accuracy, clarity, content, diction, inflection and volume.
The National Champion was crowned as Jeremy Holland from Cinderford, with John Criffiths from Sleaford in second place and Mark Wylie from Calne in third.
The Bob Walker trophy for the best placed crier who hasn’t won a Guild Competition before, was awarded to Judy Campbell from Echuca Moama, Australia.
Other awards were given for best dressed crier, best dressed couple, and best dressed consort.
Event host and Bromsgrove’s Town Crier for the past 40 years, Kevin Ward presented thank you gifts to the judges and his organising team.
He said: “What a stunningly successful championship we had and it’s all down to the help, support and hard work of the organising team and judges.
“It ran and was exactly as I had hoped and dreamed over the last 2 years when we were given the green light to bring it to Bromsgrove.”
The National Championship of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers was made possible thank to sponsorship and support from Bromsgrove Institute Trust, Allica Bank The Elmley Foundation, The Andrew Harris Trust, Bromsgrove Court Leet, Bromsgrove Society, Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove Cobbler, Bromsgrove Arts Alive, Bromsgrove Festival, Destination Bromsgrove, Completely Bromsgrove, Coun Dr Mick Marshall, Coun Josh Robinson and Coun Dr David Nicholl.
Local judges included Bromsgrove Society Vice-Chair Pat Tansell who marked the criers on their ability to stick to their submitted script.
The cadets from Bromsgrove & Rubery were on hand throughout the day to ensure the event ran smoothly.
Visit www.facebook.com/TownCriersCompBromsgrove for more information.
