The Town Crier of Axbridge has been appointed MBE in the New Year Honours list.

Gladys Yvonne Chamberlain (81) has been a tireless fundraiser for the Royal British Legion for over 50 years and has acted as treasurer and standard bearer for the Legion too.

Mrs Chamberlain, who announced her decision to stand down as Town Crier later this year, was first appointed as the Town Crier of Axbridge, Somerset in 1979 and has been a popular and highly respected crier ever since.

Her fellow criers are thrilled that such a well deserving lady is being honoured in this way.
Chairman of the Guild, Mr Robert Needham added “This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work that Yvonne does in her community, especially in her role as Town Crier.”

Chaplin’s Christmas & New Year’s Message for 2014

As Town Criers as we move towards the end of another year as our Civic and work life draws to a close for another year the retail premises remind us that the celebration of Christmas is almost upon us. Weather it is a religious, family or the celebrations of the summer or winter solstice it is a time of gathering family and friends together to celebrate and share in the fellowship of one another.

I would ask you all reflect on all those Criers who are not travelling life’s paths in the manner they would like and also remember the family members who are doing it tough as well. I would ask that you remember those who have vacant chairs at their tables and we remember them at this time. With many travelling over Christmas I ask for travelling mercies to all Criers and their families as they travel across this wide brown land and the world that they return to their family and friends as they left.

To those who have been impacted by the tragedies across the nation of the past week you are remembered. Should they be big or small; Martian Place Sydney, North Queensland and the loss of eight children, in my Shire the loss of four houses to Bush Fries and the large tract of land burnt out in the North East of Victoria in the last week and the many more homes which would have been lost if not for the volunteer fire fighters. As I send this letter to the Australian Criers news comes through of the Rubbish truck in Glasgow we in Australia put you in our thought right now.

As we as a community of Criers look towards the New Year I ask that we all support all our fellow Criers and families and those who help and support us through the year, and make sure that everyone we know feels they are part of a caring community. My hope and prays for all this Christmas and into the coming New Year is that feel the peace and good will of Christmas and to a for-filling New Year where all targets are met and those who are not travelling as well as they would like are in a better place shortly.

With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all

James Carter
Chaplin AHGATC

Barry is currently having a knee operation so he will not be out and about in his role as Town Crier for Blackpool this Christmas. A card or phone call from his friendly fellow criers would definitely be appreciated.

Ashby de la Zouch (Leicestershire) is planning to host a Town Criers Competition on Saturday 25th April 2015

It will be a one day St George’s Event limited to 15 Criers. More details will be posted as they become available.

The Guild has been contacted by someone looking to hire a town crier for a Christmas event for a local
shopping centre (in Middlesbrough). The theme is to be old fashioned traditional Christmas. The event is a Christmas Market being held on Saturday 6th December.

contact Jennifer Parvin

The Royal Wootton Bassett competition, hosted by Owen Collier on 20th September 2014 resulted in the following winners.

1st   Mark Wylie – Calne

2nd Peder Nielsen – Bromyard

3rd David Fry – South Gloucestershire