Best town crier places third in world tournament

Christian Ashdown, 57, placed in third at the recent world championships held in Chester, Cheshire.

He finished behind an Australian and a Belgian - making him Britain's best.

Christian has been the town crier in Haslemere, Surrey, for 16 years.

He says he did not think he would place in the top three at the competition - describing his finish as a "pleasant surprise".

Christian said: "I like to think I am up in the top 30 town criers.

"At that competition there were some top criers, especially from Canada, and I came ahead of them, so I was quite impressed with that.

"The tourists loved it.

"I was quite surprised because when you look at other criers it is hard to tell how you are doing. But it was a very pleasant surprise."

Twenty-five people entered the World Town Crier Tournament, held over five days at the end of last month.

Competitors were judged on three cries: one on their home towns, one on a luxury lingerie shop that sponsored the event and another on their hotel accommodation.

Kevin Howarth from the city of Toowoomba in Australia ran out as the winner, with Joris Goens of Veurne in Belgium placing second.

Christian says he never intended to be a town crier, but when his local one decided to retire in the middle of the busy Christmas period, the mayor called him asking if he would fill in.

He hesitantly accepted, before eventually falling in love with the role.

He is now the chair of the Ancient and Honorable Guild of Town Criers, which is the largest and oldest body of town criers in the world.

Christian says there are 117 members in the guild and that town crying is becoming more popular over the years.

The job mostly consists of meeting and greeting people within the town on special occasions and market days, as well as representing the town during contests.

Criers have to wear a costume, which is usually Georgian-inspired as that was the peak of town crying.

They work on a volunteer basis so they usually have other jobs outside of it.

He added: "It had never crossed my mind to become a town crier. I knew what they were, but I didn't know they still existed.

"I knew nothing about it, but I have very much embraced it.

"I think it is on the increase due to the fact the guild has advertised on social media. It has never really died off funnily enough. It is something that has never gone away.

"People love it and they thank me. It is all positive which surprised me actually."

Christian, who works as a projects and amenities officer at Haslemere Town Council, regularly competes and has even won championships previously.

Contestants are judged on volume, clarity, inflection, and diction.

The Haslemere crier says that common mistakes are saying "oyez" while talking, rather than at the start with a pause, and focusing too much on volume.

He also advises not to use your voice too much the day before a crying event, as you will need lots of water and throat lozenges.

He added: "Try not to scream and shout too much. You have to pace yourself.

"Just be nice and clear. It is not necessarily always about the volume, it is enunciation.

"I have already got my name down for competitions next year. It is a good way to meet other criers and compare notes for a day."