The 59th Annual National Town Criers Championships in Hastings

On Saturday 15th October 2011 we were in Hastings practicing for the following days Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open tournament and decided to take a break to spectate at the 59th Annual National Town Criers Championships that was taking place in the town's Queens Square.

The event saw Town Criers from all over the UK competing to be crowned the National Champion and entrants were judged on 'volume, diction, clarity and inflection'.

The event was MC'd by Hastings' Town Crier Jon Bartholomew and as well as keeping the event rolling, he also let the audience know about the Hastings Beer and Battle Cider available from Hastings Brewery - which I have since found out is planning to launch a Gluten Free Beer soon!

Photo: Richard enjoys a Battle Cider while listening to the Town Criers Championships in Hastings

During the event the MC also asked the crowd to shout out 'Yay' if they were from Hastings, and 'Nay' if they were from elsewhere. With my stentorian voice I gave an almighty "Nay" to which one of the Town Criers stood nearby commented "You should be a Town Crier with that voice"!

Link - The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers