Hear ye, hear ye! You may not be aware, but town criers still exist — and the best of the bunch recently came together to show off their skills in an international competition. Held in Chester, England, the World Town Crier Tournament took place late last month with 25 competitors from eight nations.
While town criers date as far back as ancient Greece and Rome, their prevalence in England beginning in the Middle Ages resulted in the image many associate with the role today. Literacy rates were much lower then, so criers were responsible for communicating news, beginning announcements with an exclamation of “oyez,” which is pronounced “oh yay” and derives from a French word meaning “to listen.”
Decked out in period attire, the 2026 tournament participants performed three cries: one on their home towns, one on a retail store that sponsored the event, and another on their hotel accommodations. They were judged on vocal power, clarity, showmanship, and audience engagement.
Kevin Howarth from Queensland, Australia, was named the overall winner, while Joris Goens of West Flanders, Belgium, took second place. Representing the host country, Christian Ashdown from Surrey, England, came in third. Ashdown spoke to SWNS after the event, describing his win as “a very pleasant surprise.”
The 57-year-old noted that “there were some top criers” at the competition — and he would know. He’s been crier of Haslemere, a historic market town in Surrey, for 16 years and has won prior championships.
A projects and amenities officer for the Haslemere Town Council, Ashdown said he never intended to be a town crier, but when his predecessor decided to retire in the middle of the busy Christmas period, the mayor called asking if he’d fill in.
He hesitantly accepted and eventually fell in love with the role. He’s now the chair of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, which is the largest and oldest body of town criers in the world. Ashdown says there are 117 members and that town crying is becoming more popular as the guild has begun posting on social media.
The job mostly consists of greeting people on special occasions and market days, as well as representing the town during contests. Criers must wear a costume, which is usually Georgian-inspired as that was the peak of town crying in England. Because they generally work on a volunteer basis, many hold down other jobs as well.
“It had never crossed my mind to become a town crier. I knew what they were, but I didn’t know they still existed,” said Ashdown. “I knew nothing about it, but I have very much embraced it.” He added: “People love it and they thank me. It is all positive which surprised me actually.”
Despite the perception of town criers being artifacts of the past, he noted that the position “has never really died off funnily enough. It is something that has never gone away.”
He said that common mistakes are saying “oyez” while talking, rather than at the start of a cry with a pause, and focusing too much on volume. He also advises fellow or aspiring criers not to use their voice too much the day before an event, as they’ll need lots of water and throat lozenges.
“Try not to scream and shout too much. You have to pace yourself,” Ashdown explained. “Just be nice and clear. It is not necessarily always about the volume; it is enunciation.”
This article was originally written by Isobel Williams for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
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