Crying out for competition

PLANS are in the pipeline for a town criers’ competition in Dewsbury next year.

The idea was put forward by Coun Eric Firth, the Mayor of Kirklees, after he visited the annual town criers’ competition in Huddersfield.

“It was so entertaining, colourful and vibrant that I thought ‘why don’t we have one in Dewsbury?’” he said.

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“I spoke to our town crier, Laurie Gilbert, who was all for it but said he wasn’t really an organiser, so I got in touch with Huddersfield town crier Vic Watson, who is.”

Now Laurie and Vic are working together to come up with costings and plans for the competition.

“Of course it still has to be approved by the area committee,” said Coun Firth, “but it won’t cost an arm and a leg.”

If the plans and funding are approved, it is hoped that the competition will take place in April next year with at least a dozen town criers taking part.