Oyez, oyez! Town crier event debut for our Bob

WORTHING town crier Bob Smytherman bellowed his best words to promote his beloved home town in his debut town crier competition on Saturday.
Bob Smytherman, Worthing town crier, at Wootton Bassett Town Crier Competition on Saturday SUS-140922-145535001Bob Smytherman, Worthing town crier, at Wootton Bassett Town Crier Competition on Saturday SUS-140922-145535001
Bob Smytherman, Worthing town crier, at Wootton Bassett Town Crier Competition on Saturday SUS-140922-145535001

Mr Smytherman was taking part in the Royal Wootton Bassett Town Crier Competition in Wiltshire, giving two speeches on Sussex and Worthing.

The competition was judged on clarity and volume, diction and costume. And although he did not win, Mr Smytherman felt he gave a good account of himself.

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He said: “It was really good fun. I read a Worthing poem and a Sussex poem as part of my entry.

“I didn’t win but that was no surprise, really, as there were over 20 town criers and some of them have been doing it for years. We were really well looked after and if we could get a similar competition in Worthing, it would be fabulous for the town.”

The town crier role was revived after Worthing Town Centre Initiative agreed to sponsor Mr Smytherman and fund 
his outfit.

Town centre manager Sharon Clarke also attended the event as a show of support.

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She said: “He did extremely well and it was good for him to be with the other town criers and learn more about the role.

“While he didn’t come in the top three, we didn’t expect him to as he is so new to the town crier role.

“Being a multimedia town crier, he wanted to use his iPad to read his cries from but these competitions are very strict, so he wasn’t allowed to in the end.”

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