The thirteenth annual Frome Town Crier Festival took place on Saturday 15th June.
Organisers said, “23 criers eventually took part in the competition, as two had to drop out at the last minute for different reasons. It was quite an emotional day, as that date 2018 saw the sudden death of Mike’s father-in-law, Anton Ljubljanovic. [Mike Bishop is Frome’s town crier.] The festival committee has now dedicated this competition to the late Anton, as he had been in attendance for many years at this annual event.
“The day started a bit wet and overcast, but did not dampen the atmosphere. After the usual parade around part of the town, the competition got under way outside of the library. All criers performed their own home town cries, telling people why they should visit their towns. After a short break so as the criers could look around the town, the second cry took place.
“As usual the second cry was a recent news item, but this year Mike had got all the criers to submit their cries beforehand, and each crier had to choose another crier’s cry. This idea seemed to go down quite well.
“After a late lunch the presentations were made, In the cry section 3rd place was Mark Wylie of Calne, 2nd was Stuart Cummings of Chard, 1st was Peder Nielson of Bromyard. In the dress, the best dressed Escort was Viv Cummings of Chard, Best dressed crier was Chris Smirthwaite of Liskeard, and the couple were Chris and Jennifer Smirthwaite from Liskeard. Top Somerset crier went to Stuart Cummings of Chard, and overall champion (a combination of cry and dress) went to Peder Nielson of Bromyard.
“Mike had to make the sad announcement, that due to being a victim of their own success, the 2019 festival would be the last in its present format. From 2020 there will still be a festival, but on a totally new format, where the criers will walk around the town centre performing just one cry each in different venues, and will be limited to a maximum of just 14 criers.
“Mike is sad at this announcement, but at least hopefully Frome will still witness a town crier event.”
