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.

Transcript

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!