Queen is saved but a Belgian takes the prize - town criers' competition (July 04, 2010)
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THE Queen is on an official visit to Canada at the moment but she kept being saved in Warminster on Saturday afternoon.
The 21 town criers gathered to compete for the Imperial Charity Trophy
in Warminster park must have collectively saved Her Majesty at least 50
times during the four hours of shouting.
It was won, rather ironically, by Belgian national Willy van de Putte,
who isn't one of her loyal subjects and who addressed the gathering at
full volume in his native Dutch.
He comes from Gent which is in the Flemish or Dutch speaking part of the small country.
Local loudmouth Trevor Heeks of Trowbridge drowned out most of the
other competitors with his stentorious address to claim third prize.
The event heralded the start of the eight-day Warminster Festival and
began with much jangling of bells as the town criers parade from the
Assembly Hall to the park via the High Street, accompanied by friends
in appropriate costume.
They were met by bemused stares by many shoppers, who may never have seen so many town criers in one place before.
The MC at the event was our own town crier and the awards were presented by deputy mayor Mrs Pip Ridout.
''It is a pity the event wasn't better supported by townsfolk, but the
town council is to be commended for trying to make better community use
of the park,'' said Steve Dancey.
''The low life elements who usually hold court in the area on a
sunny summer afternoon looked visibly annoyed that others had entered
their demesne.''
H
