At Hastings National Town Crier Championships there are two trophies presented each year. Twelve months ago I was thrilled to win the Champion trophy, and this year I returned it, only to win the other one. On 18th October I was delighted to win the silver bowl for being the ‘best dressed’ crier. Of course…
We are heading toward a big anniversary next year. it will be 800 years since King John was forced to put his seal on Magna Carta at Runnymede. As part of the build up I was asked to help at Windsor’s Guildhall on Saturday, telling people about the history of the document and its continuing…
I usually shout at earache inducing volumes but that wouldn’t have been appropriate at the weekend when I visited the residents of a care home near Marlow. I had been asked to come and give a talk on being the town crier and was slightly apprehensive because this would be my first time delivering a…
This morning I spent a couple of hours in the town centre with the large crowds of visitors. The queue for the castle was as long as ever so I gave an impromptu history talk to the back of the queue to take their minds off the wait. Then we let some kids ring the…
The Mayor kindly gave me permission for a very different kind of town crier duty on the 4th August. from 10.00pm I stood watch at the Corn Exchange beneath the Guildhall, Windsor tending a single candle, lit in remembrance of all those who suffered in the Great War of 1914-1918. For an hour I waited,…
I went to Warwick at the weekend to represent the Royal Borough in a Town Crier Competition. Despite the rain 20 or so criers processed through the streets of the the town ringing our bells and then got down to the serious business of competing to find out which of us could perform the loudest,…
An historic day as President Michael D Higgins become the first head of state of the Republic of Ireland to make a full state ceremonial visit to the UK. Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II welcomed the President at Windsor on Datchet Road and a full cavalcade drove up to the castle. I was out from…
Three announcements made at Windsor town centre urging people to head down to the King’s Road roundabout where Her Majesty would shortly be unveiling the new ‘Windsor Greys’ statue. We then walked down the long walk and joined the crowd to watch the Queen, Prince Phillip and Prince William arrive, welcomed by the Mayor and…
I was lucky to be asked by the Mayoress to help with the Mayoral Couple’s charity variety gala on March 22 at the Desborough Suite in Maidenhead Town Hall. The show comprised lots of local acts performing song, dance and comedy numbers in order to raise money for three local good causes. These were the Maidenhead…
At Windsor’s Guildhall a new exhibition of finds from the Wessex Archaeology excavation in nearby Horton went on show today. The Neolithic, Bronze age, Iron Age and Roman artefacts will be on display in Windsor town centre for the next 12 months. I spent the morning in town, handing out fliers about the finds and…