The 71st National Town Criers' Championships in Rye, East Sussex, on October 12 2024
The 71st National Town Criers' Championships in Rye on October 12 2024.
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00:00I need more people to come out, we don't want to get those people in the back.
00:04I think this is good.
00:06That way.
00:08There we go.
00:10There we go.
00:12Hi!
00:17Welcome to the 71st National Town Crier Championships.
00:25For those who don't know me, my name is Paul.
00:28I am the Town Crier of Rye.
00:31And as we are being held in Rye, I am not allowed to compete.
00:38Because they know I beat them all.
00:43But I will be hosting it, along with the lovely Arabella.
00:48As some of you may know, as my Deputy Town Crier.
00:55Now, this is the second year the National Championships have been held in Rye.
01:03For 69 years before that, they were held in Hastings.
01:12And then in 2023, Hastings Borough Council decided they no longer wanted to either host the competition or have a Town Crier.
01:23And so Rye Town Council immediately snatched the opportunity and took it over.
01:29So here we are in Rye.
01:31I'd like to thank all our sponsors, donors and all those who have assisted, including Rye Town Council.
01:43Our main sponsor, Rock Channel Marine.
01:48W Torretts, the builders.
01:53David Angel from Wordsmith.
01:58The Mermaid Inn.
02:01And Sussex Medal Services.
02:08Be it known.
02:11Welcome to the ancient town of Rye.
02:17England's best preserved medieval town.
02:23Our castle, walls and fortified gateway bear witness to our turbulent, grim past.
02:35Plundered, pillaged, sacked, sieged, broken and burnt by the malevolent French.
02:48We rose again to be one of Tudor England's major ports.
02:56Harbour to the Royal Fleet.
02:59Until the sea departed, leaving Rye a landlocked island.
03:08Pirates and painters.
03:11Soldiers and smugglers.
03:14Monarchs and murderers.
03:16Writers and witches.
03:19All walked our cobbled streets.
03:23Their ghosts walk here still.
03:27Today, Rye is at peace.
03:32Famed for its historic beauty.
03:36Long may she stand.
03:39May God bless Old England and the ancient town of Rye.
03:46And may God save the King!