Thetford resident and Watton Town Crier Mike Wabe lifts the lid on the surprisingly competitive world of town crying.
I am Mike Wabe, and although I live in Thetford, I am the Town Crier for Watton. I am also the official Crier for Norwich Pride, and I have started off the Pride March there since 2019. You may have heard or seen me “doing my thing” in Thetford at the annual Specsavers Cake Stall, the proceeds of which go in total to breast cancer charities, and at the Festival of Thetford and the Punjab.
Town Criers have existed in this country for 1,000 years at least. There are also Criers in the USA, Canada, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and some European countries, and each one is modelled on the British Crier.
I became a Town Crier in 2011, and as well as carrying out my civic duties, I have participated in various Town Crier competitions around the country. I also host such a competition in Watton. This competition takes place every two years, and the last one was on 30th May this year. Thirteen Criers from around the country attended, coming from such diverse places as Warwick, Bognor Regis and Henley-in-Arden, with others closer – Dunmow, Cromer, Norwich and Clare. It was a wonderful and colourful event – and LOUD! As the Host Crier, I cannot take part in my own competition, but I do deliver an appropriate cry in each round.
Every competition has two rounds, Round 1 being the Hometown Cry, where the Criers “sell” the attractions of the town that they represent. Round 2 is a Themed Cry. Each Host decides on the theme, and this year the theme at Watton was Famous People Who Were Born In, Live In, Or Have Lived In Norfolk. Having finalised a list of 13 such people, the Criers’ names and who they would cry about were drawn out of a hat.
Competitions have strict rules and each competitor is judged by those rules. For example, the cries must not be less than 100 words and not more than 125 or 140 words, depending on the competition. The cries must start with the usual three OYEZs and end with a salutation to the reigning monarch – God save the King at the moment. The cries are submitted in advance, and a judge follows the written text closely as the Crier delivers it. Miss a word, add a word, transpose words, and each instance results in a points deduction. Cries MUST be accurate as Criers do not deliver “fake news”!
Other judges look at the Criers’ confidence and bearing, vocal proficiency – including diction and inflexion – and volume. Criers need to be heard.
The Watton competition ended with 1st place going to Adrian Holmes of Sandwell (up North in the Black Country in case you were wondering), 2nd place went to John Griffiths from Sleaford and 3rd place to Mark Northway from Cromer. Mark also collected the trophy for Best Themed Cry and Faye Thompson from Petersfield was awarded the title of Best Ambassador.
Over the years I have competed in competitions around the country, my first being at Warwick in 2014, and I came 3rd. I went back to Warwick again this year on 24th May – by jiminy it was hot – and collected 3rd place once more. Unfortunately, the annual Ely Competition has now ceased as they do not currently have a Crier, but I have won there twice and been placed on other occasions. Similarly at Sleaford, two consecutive wins and other places. In 2024 in Alcester, near Stratford-upon-Avon, I came 3rd. Also in 2024 I came 3rd at Haslemere, and in Dunmow’s inaugural competition on 4th May this year, I won.
There are two overarching bodies that look after Town Criers in this country – The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, founded in 1978, and the Loyal Company of Town Criers, founded in 1993. These organisations have slightly different rules. All Criers are members of one or the other, and many of us are members of both. Each organisation holds its own British Championships, and the Guild Championships in 2019 were held in Cromer – and I came 2nd.
If you would like a LOUD and eye-catching means of gaining attention, then I would be happy to help. I have delivered cries for special birthdays, anniversaries, shop openings and the like and, I have delivered wake-up cries for brides on their wedding days, with a follow-up cry at the reception venue. On the theme of weddings, recently a bride issued a challenge to the recipients of the wedding invitations to respond in the most innovative way they could think of. The bride’s parents hired me, and if you were in Thetford Garden Centre’s café in February, you would have heard it.
If you are thinking of becoming a Town Crier – and this includes ladies as we have a lot of lady Criers – remember, you must NOT shout! If you do, you may well damage your vocal cords.
If you hear the ringing of my bell, please do stop and listen. You never know what you may hear.
Mike Wabe
