Town criers celebrate their 'corners of the world'
BBCWearing an ornate waistcoat, a tricorn hat, knee-length breeches, long white socks, leather shoes with polished brass buckles - and often armed with a hand-held bell - the town crier harks back to a bygone era. With two towns in Cornwall currently advertising for people to fill the historic roles, we spoke to some about what they bring to communities in the South West.
"Oyez, Oyez, Oyez. Although it's spelled strangely it gives me such joy, to talk of my hometown the place we call Fowey".
Alan Giles from has been town crier for Fowey in Cornwall for the past seven years and this week has been taking on counterparts from around the UK and beyond in the Town Crier World Tournament.
The competition in Chester has seen 25 town criers competing from England, the Channel Islands, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the United States.
'Bring a smile'
Giles said the competition had included three days of proclamations including a home cry, a retail cry and an accommodation cry, his favourite being the home cry.
"I've had the cry for a few years now and it really encompasses Fowey quite well," he said.
He added he was proud to "be able to shout about our little corner of the world and how wonderful it is and... hopefully we'll get a few more people wanting to come and see us".
Giles is just the sixth town crier in Fowey since 1835 and said it was a "privilege".
"I love it... going around and meeting the people, doing the proclamations is just a small part of it really."
He added children often mistook him for a pirate in the maritime port causing "awe and sometimes confusion".
"It's nice to bring a smile to the children's faces."
Leslie EllisLeslie Ellis has been the town crier for Dartmouth in Devon since 2007.
In Britain, town criers date back to medieval times, even being depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
Ellis said: "The king wanted to send out people who could read and write and do a proclamation to the villagers.
"They were protected by law, you didn't heckle them or cause any mischief."
He added: "They enforced curfews, they helped with hanging witches, they sold stuff at markets by ringing the bell... so they were very important in their day."
Today town criers play a more ceremonial role, helping to boost tourism, hosting events and supporting charities.
Ellis said his favourite part of being a town crier was meeting people.
"The town crier community is like a family to me," he said.
Jane Smith is from the Lizard in Cornwall but the town crier for Bognor Regis in Sussex, while also being vice chair and the first lady vice chair of the ancient and honourable guild of town criers - the largest body of town cries in the world.
She said: "It wasn't on my list of things to do when I was younger but the opportunity arose and I took it.
"I have always performed and been in pantomimes and amateur dramatics... when I was younger so it was kind of a natural progression."
She said there was also an increasing trend for female town criers.
"We have about 170 members and about 15% are ladies.
"In recent years we've had a few more ladies coming through which is quite nice."
'Be yourself'
Looe Town Council and Newquay Town Council have both recently advertised for people to apply for the roles of town crier, with application deadlines in October.
Stephen Remington, Looe mayor, said: "Looe has been without a town crier for too long and we want to put that right.
"We are looking for someone who enjoys meeting people, supporting local activities and representing Looe with pride."
Ellis said those wanting to get involved in town crying didn't necessarily need a loud voice but they did need vocal clarity to make sure they were understood.
Giles added his advice to anyone interested was to "be yourself, be cheerful, and be happy to help people".
Smith said her tip to applicants would be to "find out a little bit of history on your town that you cry for because people will always ask questions about various goings on".
"Enjoy it, put your own take on it and be you, but once you put the livery on you become this character person," she added.
