Speaker Meeting, 6.15 for 6.30pm

Owen Collier Royal Wootton Bassett Town Crier since 2005 (although served as deputy Town Crier from 2001 to 2005)

On the Club's Facebook page -

The Office of Town Crier has existed in England since Roman Times; it is mentioned in historical circles that in Roman Britain, Town Criers were messengers, fleet of foot, who would travel between settlements bringing news.
William the Conqueror, in the Act of Winchester in 1087, decreed that all large cities and towns should have a crier in order to spread ‘The Kings Word’.  Town Criers were minor officials of the court and often carried out a number of duties

Some of the Town Criers past duties were:-

• Responsible for hooks and ladders which were kept in order to pull off any burning thatch from roofs.
• Responsible for the branding of thieves and vagabonds
• Until 1879 acting as constable and moving on suspicious loiterers
• The whipping of miscreants and thieves
• Keeper of the Stocks  [the last offender in Royal Wootton Bassett to be put into the stocks for drunkenness was an Edward Beames].
• In the Seventeenth Century the Town Crier was the fore-runner of the trading standards officer and would, and still can, under old English Law, demand entry in the name of “King and Borough” in order to taste the wares and claim them fit and proper

The Town Criers common cry, Oyez, Oyez, Oyez roughly translated means hark or listen and, as representatives of the monarch, still today end their messages “God Save the King or Queen”  The Town Crier today is still The Sovereign’s Messenger and cannot be ejected or refused entry to any Town or City while on the public highway. To this day any Town Crier in Britain and The Commonwealth is protected under Old English Law.   This states that the Town Crier is not to be heckled or hindered, while performing his duties and that to do so is an act of treason against the ruling monarch and disrespectful to The Crown and Office of Town Crier . The Town Crier’s historical role continues today, the main function being to actively promote tourism, town events, civic occasions, charitable events and business.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE OF TOWN CRIER IN ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT

• Mayor Making Ceremonies and in Council
• Introductions at Civic Events in Town and environs
• Announcing forthcoming events in the community
• Greeting Representatives, visitors and guests
• Remembrance Day and other inter-denominational services
• Town Events, Celebrations and Christmas Lights EVENT
• Town Criers Contests and gatherings to promote tourism
• Leading the Carnival procession
• Promoting the town at other town gatherings
• Taking care of the Mayor at functions
• Guarding The Mayors Chain of Office and protecting the well being of The  Mayor

The Royal Wootton Bassett Town Crier is also the Towns Official Sword-bearer and can be seen carrying The Sword of The Old Borough of Wootton Basset before the Mayor at Civic functions.  The Sword supersedes The Mace as the ultimate symbol of royal authority and signifies that The Mayor is acting with full authority from The Crown
Only five Towns in the UK are permitted to bear a sword before their Mayor , these being Bury St Edmunds ,Hertford Town , Thetford, Kings Lynn and Royal Wootton Bassett     
Members of The Loyal Company of Town Criers and the Ancient &Honourable Guild of Town Criers have strict codes of practise to which criers must adhere .   To apply for membership, the crier has to be appointed and minuted by his Town Council or Lord of The Manor and has to provide proof of his appointment.  On being accepted into the Guild or Company, criers are expected to swear an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen to The Guild or Company,  as well as to The Office of Town Crier   
The Town Crier is a voluntary and unpaid  service to the Town and people of Royal Wootton Bassett and the community it represents

Former Royal Wootton BassettTown Criers

• John Knighton 1693 (Publican, The Cross Keys)  (Court Rolls of William III)
• Samuel Wiltshire 1837-1895(Constable 1837-1879)
• William Wheeler 1880
• Joseph Wiltshire 1895-1915 Town Crier, Bill Poster &Parish Clerk
• Ray Prince1972 (Carnival Appointed)
• John Church1972 (Carnival appointed)
• Albert Webb 1973(Carnival Appointed)
• Fred “Boots” Deacon 1974-2005