ILMINSTER NEWS: Oyez oyez oyez – the town criers are coming!

TOWN criers will be converging on Ilminster next month and they will have plenty to “shout about.”

The second annual Town Crier competition will be held in Ilminster on Saturday, May 7, 2016, and 15 town criers – many accompanied by their uniformed escorts – will assemble in the town.

They will parade from Ilminster Arts Centre along East Street to the Market House at 11am.

Following a welcome and benchmark cry by Ilminster’s own town crier, Andrew Fox, the criers will battle it out with each other to be crowned Best Crier.

In the morning, each crier will shout about the virtues and beauties of his or her own home town.  Later, after lunch, they will again cry on the theme of “A few of my favourite things”.

The criers will be marked by independent judges with regard to their volume, clarity, diction and expressiveness.

In addition, a further judge will consider their uniforms and turnout to select the Best Dressed Crier and Best Dressed Escort.

Ilminster town crier Andrew Fox said: “This should be a very colourful and loud event and I hope lots of local people will come out and support the town criers.”

PHOTO – TOP: Ilminster town crier Andrew Fox.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Ilminster town crier Andrew Fox had plenty to shout about at last year’s Midsummer Experience in Ilminster.

Town criers have a long and honourable history in Britain, originating in the office of Bellman who informed the local populations of the decrees of their overlords, initially Normans telling the Saxon populace what was required.

The town criers were regarded as messengers of authority descending from the Crown and it became a treasonable offence to interfere or hinder their work.  For this reason, many were accompanied by escorts to protect them.

But Andrew added: “Fortunately, we are far more relaxed about such matters today and the office of town crier has become more of a social function with the Escorts much more decorative than the original threatening presence.”

Town criers from Wales to Sussex and from Herefordshire to Cornwall – as well as some more local to home – will be taking part in the competition and among the guests attending will be Lord Cameron of Dillington and Cllr Tony Walker, Deputy Mayor of Ilminster.

While the criers take a well-earned lunch break to rest their tonsils during the competition, there will be additional entertainment in the Town Square with singers and majorettes.

PHOTO – ABOVE: The annual town crier’s competition in Yeovil in 2014 with, from left, Yeovil town crier Bruce Trigger, then Yeovil Mayor Cllr Manny Roper, Crewkerne town crier David Craner and Ilminster’s very own Andrew Fox.

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