Carnforth hosts town criers' contest
OYEZ! Carnforth town crier Frank Barton.
TOWN CRIERS from across the country will be making sure their vocal chords are well oiled for a special competition in Carnforth this Saturday (April 19).
Fourteen resplendent town criers will compete in the Lancashire Cup – with Carn-forth's own town crier, Frank Barton, master of ceremonies.
June Barton, Frank's wife, said: "It will be a colourful event, with all the different colours of the criers' regalia.
"This will be our fourteenth competition. We usually get quite a good crowd. Some people like to do their own judging".
Criers from as far afield as Devon and Wiltshire will battle it out with competitors from across Lancashire. Frank, as host, is not permitted to enter but will give a 'bench cry' to welcome the judges.
The fun starts at 11am with a parade through Carnforth led by the Morecambe Band.
For the first round competitors will give a cry about their home town and in the second the cries will be about the Lake District. Two female town criers are expected to take part.
The judges will mark the criers on diction, inflection, volume and clarity. Marks will also be given for the best regalia. The first round will take place at 11.30am and from 1pm to approximately 1.30pm the Morecambe Band will play.
Round two starts at 2.30pm with the final and presentation ceremony taking place from 3pm to 3.30pm.
The second part of the weekend-long competition will be at Sandbach in Cheshire on Sunday. Points from both days will be added to establish the overall winner of the cup.
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