On a crisp autumn morning in Chester, the historic city played host to the final round of the World Town Crier Tournament, a week-long event featuring 25 competitors from various towns and cities around the world. The gathering, which resembles an Olympics of public proclamation, drew participants not only from England but also Canada, the United States, Australia, and several European countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
The town criers, dressed in traditional tricorne hats, scarlet frock coats, and gold brocade accents, assembled on Bridge Street before moving to Exhibition Square for their performances. Throughout the competition, contestants delivered proclamations praising their hometowns and local businesses, reflecting the historical role of town criers in advertising as well as issuing official announcements. In the final round, each participant recited a prepared 125-word text lauding their host hotels.
Judges evaluated competitors on several criteria beyond mere volume, noting that loudness alone no longer guarantees success. One contestant, Alan Giles from Fowey, Cornwall, recorded a notable 117-decibel “Oyez!” during a midweek contest—nearly as loud as a jet at take-off—but clarity, expression, poise, and audience engagement were equally important. Points were deducted for straying from the scripted text.
The event showcased a diverse range of personalities and costumes. James Stewart, representing New Glasgow, Canada, wore a bottle-green velvet cape with lace accents and described his changing persona when donning the cape as akin to becoming “Batman.” Kevin Howarth from Toowoomba, Australia, known as “Krazy Kev,” sported multicoloured ostrich feathers, a kilt, and a jacket adorned with flowers, combining flamboyance with a lighthearted stage presence. Belgian participant Joris Goens, who once set a Guinness World Record for most grapes caught by mouth, appeared in a meticulously replicated historical policeman’s uniform.
The crowd on Bridge Street experienced an engaging atmosphere, with Halifax’s Les Cutts handing out sachets of Yorkshire Tea and Judy Campbell, president of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers, delivering a remarkable kookaburra impression. Campbell emphasized the need for enthusiasm in the role, saying, “You gotta go full-bore in this job. You can’t be half-arsed.”
As the criers paraded through the city center, ringing handbells and calling “Oyez,” they drew the attention of shoppers and passersby, highlighting Chester’s unique status as the last place in England with a regular town crier. David Mitchell continues a tradition dating back to at least 1554, proclaiming five times a week in the summer months.
One competitor, Peter Vader from Zwolle, Netherlands, had his costume returned after being lost by an airline, yet appeared solemn and reserved upon stepping onto the stage. Observers noted the varied styles of bell-ringing and delivery, and the importance of engaging performance techniques, whether through subtlety, humor, or silence.
The tournament demonstrated not only the enduring appeal of this historical craft but also the quirky, charismatic community that town criers form across cultures and continents.