Loudest and proudest shouters compete to become new town crier
A town crier will judge contestants’ shouting and bell-ringing chops at a competition to find his replacement next month.
Knaresborough town crier Roger Hewitt, a former teacher who has lived in the North Yorkshire town for more than 46 years, is set to retire from his post at the end of May.
Before then, he will help local Mayor Kathryn Davies appoint his successor, at a contest during the annual Knaresborough Connectors Community Festival on April 22.
Mr Hewitt and Mayor Davies will judge candidates on their bell-ringing abilities, as well as their delivery of both a scripted shout and an original of their own.
The ‘beloved’ town crier has previously given the following words of wisdom on his trade: ‘You have to shout but a big voice is not enough. You have to be able to write your own stuff, it has to be engaging.
‘It’s all about intonation, accuracy, engaging your audience and doing your best. It’s a good thing that volume isn’t the main thing!‘
As part of a local lineage stretching all the way back to 1680, Mr Hewitt has shouted news and proclamations at the town’s Wednesday market and other community events for almost a decade, having twice won ‘Best Dressed’ at national competitions in that time.
Charlotte Gayle, of Knaresborough and District Chamber, who are organizing the event, said: ‘Sadly Roger has announced his retirement after eight years of dedicated service to the town.
‘Roger has been an exemplary town crier and is a hugely popular and recognisable figure in Knaresborough.
‘Everyone at Chamber would like to extend a huge thank you to Roger for his dedication to the role and wish him well in his retirement.’
Mr Hewitt and Mayor Davies will be looking for ‘a talented individual with a strong, clear voice and a passion for communicating important messages to the community.’
Those interested in applying should contact the chamber directly, providing a brief introduction outlining why they’d be suitable for the role and describing their connection to the town.
Historically, the role of town criers was to communicate the news of the day – such as the price of produce, as well as civic and royal announcements – to the largely illiterate public.
As Alan Myatt, who boasts the title of loudest town crier in the world, explains: ‘Criers are in the Bible, they’re in the Torah and the Quran.
‘We’ve been there since the dawn of history. I think we’re the oldest auxiliary organization in the world… or possibly the second. I think prostitution was the first.’
In the UK, the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers was founded in 1978 to preserve the traditions and heritage of the role. Today, there are roughly 140 town criers registered across the country.
Many compete in national contests, putting their skills to the test at events like the Hastings National Competition and the Loyal Company of Town Criers’ British Championships.
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