OYEZ! OYEZ! Town crier Andrew Norris flew the flag for Wellington in South Somerset on Saturday (April 25) and returned home with plenty to shout about.

He represented Wellington at the annual Yeovil Town Crier Competition, pitting his prowess against 13 criers from around the country each vying to score points for diction, inflection, volume, and clarity.

Hosted for the third year by Yeovil town crier David Recardo, each crier had prepared two cries for the day, one to represent their hometown and the other on the theme of “water”.

Awards were handed out for overall champion, runners-up, best dressed crier, best dressed escort and best dressed couple but with a fabulous 180 points out of a possible 200 it was Wellington’s town crier who scooped the top prize bringing home a perpetual shield.

Runner-up was Jeremy Holland from Cinderford with Mark Northway from Cromer placed third.

Wellington town crier, Mr Norris said: “I had a wonderful time in Yeovil at the weekend and was very pleased with the result, of course! I took a risk with my cry on the theme of water as I had some tongue twisters in there but I think managing to speak through them eloquently is what clinched my victory.”

The perpetual shield awarded at the event will be on display in Wellington Town Council’s reception at 30 Fore Street once Andrew’s name and the town of Wellington has been engraved on it.

Fancy a try at the Wellington home cry?

“There are thirty-nine Wellingtons on our globe. But one, which stands in a league of its own. By the Blackdown Hills in Somerset, our market town’s found. Where sustainability and progress fully abound. Fox’s famed fabrics once spun with pride, sent our name both far and wide. Our town is where community and culture entwine.”