The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers represents official town criers in the United Kingdom. We meet together to compete in friendly competition and strive to help each other be the best we can be.
Town Criers are asked to appear at local civic events, charity functions and major national events too. Many town criers also help local businesses and other organisations to promote special events.
Although most criers carry a bell, it isn't strictly necessary. Other methods of drawing attention such as drums and trumpets are perfectly acceptable. The one non-negotiable requirement is a loud voice.
Angela Standing the town crier of Arundel came first in the town crier’s competition at Wareham on 12th July 2014.
She beat Mike Bishop (Frome) and Ken Knowles (Lichfield) into second and third place respectively, while the prize for the best dressed crier was awarded to Owen Collier of Royal Wootton Bassett.
Angie Bishop was adjudged best escort and together with her husband Mike they were also awarded ‘best couple’.
Lichfield held a town crier’s competition on Saturday 5th July 2014.
Congratulations to the following winners
1st Peter Taunton (Stafford)
2nd Martin Wood (Shrewsbury)
3rd Adrian Holmes (Sandwell)
Best dressed Crier – Tony Evans (Nailsworth)
Best dressed escort – (Jenny Evans (Nailsworth)
On the 22nd June the Town Crier competition at Calne delivered the following results:
1st Peder Nelsen
2nd Roy Goodwin
3rd Ken Knowles
Best Dressed Couple – Trevor and Lillian Heeks
Best Dressed Escort – Lillian Heeks
Best Dressed Crier – Phil Seddon
Wiltshire Champion – Owen Collier
Wessex Crown – Peder Nelsen
There are two spaces for criers at the two round one day competition on Saturday 5th July 2014 in Lichfield. If any guild members would like to compete, please contact the host Ken Knowles directly.
The clothes worn by town criers are a big part of the tradition. However, there is no fixed style of dress and so each crier has their own distinctive look.
Generally the liveries are based around a specific historical clothing style and many opt for the 18th and 19th centuries as their inspiration.
This is the tricorn hat and great coat that is often seen.
However, Victorian top hats, early 20th century bowler hats and many other styles can be seen too.
The coat or cape is often based on military uniform and so many criers opt for red as the predominant colour of their livery.
However local coats of arms or town colours can influence the colour choices a crier makes.
We are pleased to welcome two new guild members.
Mr Devlin Hobson, the new Town Crier of Kidsgrove
Mr Anthony Stentiford, the new Town Crier of Callington
The new website has a very easy to administer control panel and you don’t need technical skills to write and edit for the site. If any members of the guild are interested in assisting as writers and editors, please contact the secretary.
Ken Knowles the Town Crier of Lichfield has won the Tennyson trophy for the second time in a row. At Haslemere in June 2014 Ken competed against 15 other criers and scored highest points in two rounds of competition.
