Hear ye hear ye, town crier championship is here
Woolshops Shopping Centre had something to shout about last weekend as it held its first Town Crier Championship. H a l i f a x town crier Les Cutts welcomed participants from across the UK including the Liverpool, Biddulph, Stafford, Huddersfield and Bridlington town criers.
Seven judges attended to decide the winner of each category which included: Woolshops Centre Manager, Jason Gregg; Sue Robinson, from the Loyal Company of Town Criers; Andy Steer, the joint owner of Collectaworld; Rob Billson, from the Community Foundation; Managing Director of Harveys Deparment Store, Tracy Harvey; Beth Ward, from Tippey Marketing; and Parfetts Cash and Carry colleague, Caroline Woodhead.
Each crier competed in two rounds and were given two shops to cry for in their bid to be crowned the Woolshops Champion Town Crier 2015.
Les Cutts, Halifax Town Crier and host, said: “It was a brilliant day and I’d like to thank all the criers, escorts and judges who attended the event. I’d also like to thank all the staff at Woolshops Shopping Centre for helping the day run smoothly.”
The winner was the Middlewich and present national Town Crier Champion Devlin Hobson. who said: “Saturday was a great day. I enjoyed writing and performing my cries and was extremely pleased when Les announced I had won.
“I enjoy wearing the traditional livery; I think my purple beard and red glasses make me stand out from other Town Criers.” Judges, from the left, Woolshops manager Jason Gregg, Andy Steer from Collectaworld.com, Rob Billson from the Community Foundation for Calderdale, Harveys MD Tracy Harvey and Beth Ward from Tippey Marketing. Results Woolshops Town Crier Champion: Devlin Hobson, Middlewich Town Crier Runner Up: John Robinson, Biddulph Town Crier Third place: Elisa Mowe, the Barnoldswick Town Crier Best Ambassador: Terry Stubbings, Liverpool Town Crier Best Dressed Couple: Peter and Maureen Taunton from Newport, Shropshire Best Content of Cry: V ic Wa t s o n , Huddersfield Town Crier