LIFE before mobile phones was the subject of one of two cries uttered by 12 town criers who shouted it out in Alcester on Saturday for the honour of being named Heart of England Champion 2025.
The proceedings, held in the town for more than 40 years, started with a parade of colourful and costumed criers around the town centre before the competition started in earnest at Malt Mill Lane gardens.
Each crier was judged on the clarity, volume and diction of two cries and, after a tie for first place, a run off between Paul Gough representing Nuneaton and Bedworth, and Adrian Holmes of Lichfield, the former was declared the worthy winner.
Event organiser Vaughan Blake said: “Alcester was once again honoured to host the annual Heart of England Town Criers’ Championship.
“We welcomed 12 criers from all around the country, from as far afield as Bognor Regis and as close as Studley.
“After a slightly damp start, the weather was kind to us, with no rain and just as importantly, no wind.
The event is known to be a particular favourite of the criers – being the first clash of the season – and also marked the 70th birthday of Kevin Ward, town crier of Bromsgrove who was placed third.
The best dressed crier award went to Andrew Parkhurst of Clare, Suffolk who was wearing medieval era attire.
The championship organisers thanked both Alcester Court Leet and Alcester Town Council as the annual event would not take place without their support.
From medieval times, the town crier served as a primary means of news communication in towns and villages, disseminating royal proclamations, public announcements and other noteworthy events to a largely illiterate audience.
