Fairford Town Crier Competition
Saturday 7th August 2010

Organised by Fairford Town Council

www.fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Fairford Market Place: 10.15 am to 5.30 pm

Host Crier: Maurice Jones

Event Programme

10.15am Draw for Cries
10.45am Parade: from Community Centre to Market Place
11.00am First Cry: about Crier’s hometown
12.30pm Irish Dancing Display
12.45pm Lunch
1.45pm Second Cry: The Cotswold Lion and it’s connection with Fairford Church
3.15pm Children Competition
3.45pm Competition Results
4.15pm Presentation of Prizes
5.30pm Town Criers leave

Come along to witness a colourful, vibrant event

Let your children exercise their lungs in the Children's Competiton

TOWN CRIER COMPETITIONS

Town Crier competitions are held in various towns throughout the year. The aim of the competitions is for Town Criers to visit other towns and be ambassadors for their own towns

The first cry is always a ‘Home Town Cry’, which gives Criers the opportunity to tell the audience about all the good things of their home town and why they should visit.

The second Cry today is about a local subject—the Cotswold Lion sheep and its connection with St Mary’s Church. It is up to each Crier to research and prepare the Cry.

The Cries are judged on two disciplines:
Diction and Inflection: The cry must be clear, crisp and understandable. It should be free from slurred words and excessive voice affectations. There should be a natural rise and fall in the inflection to emphasise the important points. Well placed pauses or breaths help the flow of the cry and thus clarify its meaning.
Sustained Volume & Clarity: The Crier should maintain the same tempo and speed for the duration of the cry. Consistency of volume must be maintained throughout the cry, except where fluctuations have been purposely used for the emphasis or style.

There is also a Best Dressed competition , which is separated into: Best Dressed Crier, Best Dressed Couple & Best Dressed Escort.

More about Maurice!

Maurice was born and bred in Fairford, and apart from 6 years in nearby Cirencester, has lived here all his life. He became a Town Crier in 1975 after taking a dare to enter a competition. Fairford Town Council recognised his talent and appointed him its official Town Crier in 1983. This allowed Maurice to become a member of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers. He reached the semi final of the World Championships at his first attempt, paving the way for a long and successful career.

Copyrighted logo. Permission kindly given by the AHGTC

Town Criers Taking Part

Joseph Beard: Crier of Llandovery

Sponsors: Sanctuary Mortgages Ltd & Joan Braithwaite

Mike Bishop: Crier of Frome

Sponsor: Mitchell & Sarjent

Ken Brightwell: Crier of Cheltenham

Sponsor: Kim Sutton Gallery and AP Decorating

George Carpenter: Crier of Wotton under Edge

Sponsor: Deli Allium

Owen Collier: Crier of Wooton Bassett

Sponsor: The Plough, Barnes Removals

David Craner: Crier of Crewkerne

Sponsor: Fairford Post Office, Ken Hinton

Peter Dauncey: Crier of Town and Manor of Melksham

Sponsor: Josh Hairdressers

Anthony Evans: Crier of Nailsworth & Minchinhampton

Sponsor: Stroud & Swindon Building Society

David Fry: Crier of South Gloucestershire

Sponsor: Mr & Mrs Hope and The Bridge Restaurant

Roy Goodwin: Crier of Ilfracombe

Sponsor: Coln House School & Des Coates

Trevor Heeks: Crier of Trowbridge

Sponsor: The Bull Hotel, Peggy Vagasky

Frank Housam: Crier of Witheridge, Devon

Sponsor: Restaurant Allium

Derek Jackson: Crier of Tetbury

Sponsor: The Hobson family and Paul Kent

Peder Nielson: Crier of Bromyard & Winslow

Sponsor: PJ Wheeler, Builders

Derrick Price M.B.E.: Crier of Knighton

Sponsor: Flying Start Nursery and Arthur Finney

Ken Purchase: Crier of Newton Abbott

Sponsor: Trevor Hing, Judith Butler

Philip Roy Seddon: Crier of Warminster

Sponsor: Cotswold Therapy Rooms

Angela Standing: Crier of Arundel

Sponsor: Mr Ernest Hairdressers, Fairford Therapy Centre

John Sweetman: Crier of Truro, Grampound, Creed & Kenwyn

Sponsors: 7a & ‘Motormouth’

Raymond Bruce Trigger: Crier of Yeovil

Sponsor: Coln House School

Jean Wells: Crier of Blandford Forum

Sponsor: 4 Business Services Ltd and Fairford Opticians

Mark Wylie: Crier of Calne

Sponsor: Keith Co-op Manager

A Previous Town Crier Competiton in Fairford

Thank You!

There are many people to thank for their support and help with running the Fairford Town Crier Competition,
without them, it would not have been possible to have such an event.

Refreshments

The refreshments are being provided by Fairford Women’s Institute, Fairford Country Markets and The Bull Hotel.

First Aid

First Aid Cover is provided by Fairford Emergency Support Team

Photographer

Paul Skinner

Judges

Bill Malin—President of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers
Lt Col Price—RAF Fairford
Cllr Joe Cusack—Fairford Town Mayor
Rev Brian Atkinson—St Mary’s Church
Muriel Goddard—Swindon Speakers Club
Vanessa Lawrence—Town Clerk
Freda Lang—Former Town Mayor

Runners

Fairford Brownies & Fairford Scouts

Helpers

Steve Evans, Alison Hobson, Pat Jones, Cath Hogarth, Vanessa Lawrence, Penny Ibbotson, Cllr S Boulton, Cllr S Jones and of course Cllr M Jones.

Irish Dancers

The Irish Dancers are from the Farrell School of Irish Dancing, which is a local group based at Fairford Town Football Club, Cinder Lane, Fairford.