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Not quite a case of he or she who shouts louder wins - style and content vital too as town criers gather in Ely for annual competition
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
You might think the rules fastidious but after a decade of bringing town criers together for an annual competition, Avril Hayter-Smith recognises how important they are.
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Volume and clarity are, of course, vital but so too is diction and inflection and then there is content.
And then there is who are the loudest - and those who heard Saturday’s competition in Ely recognised this is probably the hardest category of all to judge.
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
The competition was moved indoors because of the weather but they failed to halt an enthusiastic group of criers pitting their wit, style, content – and pitch – against each other to secure recognition.
“Criers play such an important role in publicising their home towns and through this competition, we can help spread the word about our marvellous city far and wide,” says Avril, Ely’s own town crier.
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
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Their evening in Cambridgeshire was rounded off with a prize giving celebration and dinner at Little Downham.
Results from Ely competition
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
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1st. Carole Williams
2nd. Paul Gough
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
3rd. Mike Wabe
Best Home Cry. Paul Gough
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Best Themed Cry. Terry Ford
Best dressed. Brenda Willison
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Best dressed consort. Audrey Crosby
Best dressed couple. Bob Needham and Audrey
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
The town criers, plus their consorts, processed with the Eel Day parade down to the Waterside for two cries -one “Home Cry” about their own town or city and the second cry chosen, by Ely’s Mayor, Cllr Mike Rouse - “My Favourite Ely Character”
“We had to move to the village hall for the afternoon cry due to hailstones in Ely but it all worked out well,” said Avril who paid special thanks to the judges.
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
Town criers from across the county came to Ely for their annual competition organised by the city;s own town crier Avril Hayter-Smith.The competition was moved indoors when hail came but it did not spoil an otherwise great occasion. - Credit: Archant
