Lyme Regis: Town crier declared the best in south England

Mr Street returned home victorious from the Southern Town Criers Competition, held recently in the town of Wimborne Minster.

He competed against 21 other town criers from across south England and one from Wales to win the title.

Traditionally the event has been held as part of the Georgian Fayre at Blandford Forum but was first switched to Wimborne Minster two years ago when the fayre was changed to a biannual event.

This was therefore the second occasion that Wimborne Minster’s town crier Chris Brown took up the challenge to organise the event.

The competition was over two rounds and the town criers were led from the Minster by the Dorset Youth Marching Band and other bands to Waitrose Park where the first ‘shouts’ took place. This was the ‘Howe Cry’.

After the first round the criers were led back to the Minster by the bands. The second round, the ‘Criers’ Own Choice’ took place after lunch on the Minster Green in front of a good crowd of onlookers.

After a close-run contest Mr Street was declared the winner, with Angela Standing from Arundel in second, and third place going to Iain Mitchell of West Moors.

The Best Dressed Couple award went to Mike and Angie Bishop from Frome with Caroline Craner, wife of Crewkerne town crier David Craner, winning the Best Dressed Escort Award.

The Best Dressed Town Crier was judged to be Tony Evans from Nailsworth and Minchinhampton.

After the event, Mr Brown said he was delighted with the way everything had gone and expressed his grateful thanks to all those who had helped in any way to ensure that the day was a great success.