‘God Save the Queen!’
‘God Save the Queen’ the Town Crier for Frome murmured in acknowledgement next to me, as was tradition. The Bromyard Town Crier competition was in full swing and with a flourish of her hat, the latest town crier had finished her proclamation on reasons to visit her home town in Wales. She strides purposefully from the stage (a slightly raised part of the park which we found ourselves in) and wished the next competitor the best of luck with the shake of his hand.
We have entered the world of Town Crier Competitions, more than a dozen of which are hosted in small towns across England each and every year. As with every competitive hobby, there are those who enjoy the social aspect of the gatherings more than the competition; there are people there to learn, and there are people there to win. Whilst the atmosphere is friendly, the decibels are high: each town crier being judged on their diction and clarity amongst numerable other criteria, the sound of bells and proclamations mix harmoniously with the sound of laughter and light conversation on the sunny Saturday afternoon.
The Bromyard Competition is part of my ongoing series on escapism through costume and culture in communities throughout the UK. The role of the town crier is these days purely ceremonial, however many towns employ one to act as a visible (and loud) embodiment of a town’s heritage and identity. The men and women who make up this small but dedicated community are amongst the most knowledgable and passionate people about their small corners of our nation. Whilst rural and small town identities slowly blur with that of the regional hubs, the Town Criers will certainly make their voices heard as clearly as possible.