Town Crier returns home after national competition as winner of the Best Dressed category and the top Devon crier.

The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers National Competition last weekend witnessed the success of Dartmouth’s own town crier, Les Ellis.

There were six criers from across Devon and Les Ellis was the highest placed crier from the county.

On Saturday, August 4, at Castle Hill in Windsor, 38 criers took part from all across the country and some from as far as Australia.

Gracious permission was granted by her Majesty for the event to take place on the lawn of the outer moat, next to Sailsbury Tower this year.

The cry in the morning was a home cry and the afternoon cry was ‘a celebration’. Each crier has to write their own cries of no more than 125 words including the opening words ‘Oyez, Oyez, Oyez’ and finishing the cry with ‘God Save The Queen’.

As winner of the best dressed crier, Les was wearing his new regalia made by local seamstress Sophie Tope. This was funded mainly by Dartmouth Town Council, South Hams District Council, Dartmouth Rotary Club and with other donations from David Cawley, David Kelland and Chris Jeffries.

Presenting the awards was Admiral Sir James Perowne, the Constable of Windsor Castle and a former officer at the BRNC.

The winner of the whole competition was Christian Ashdown from Haselmere, Hampshire. He was closely followed by Mark Wylie from Calne, Wiltshire and David Hinde from Helmsley, North Yorkshire came in third.

Lillian Heeks from Trowbridge, Witshire won the best dressed consort and Peter and Joan Dauncey from Melksham were the best dressed couple.