Success for Melksham Town Crier duo at Town Crier Festivals

Town crier, Peter Dauncey at an event in Melksham

Melksham Town Crier Peter Dauncey and his wife, Joan, have enjoyed success at recent town criers’ festivals.

At the Bromyard town criers’ festival, which took place in Herefordshire on the 2nd and 3rd May, Peter came 2nd overall and was also named ‘best dressed’ crier.

Peter said, “I was delighted to come 2nd in the main competition. I was 3rd last year which I was so pleased about, but 2nd is even better.

“It was a beautiful day right up until about 3pm; we spent the remainder of the day crying from the entrance of a tent.”

Peter was also named as the ‘best dressed crier’. He said, “Taking care of the uniform is a difficult job. It has to be looked after properly. So winning best dressed crier makes all the hard work worth while.”

The competition consists of two cries; one which promotes each crier’s own town and the other is a free cry, whereby they can cry about any topic they prefer. Peter chose to promote Wiltshire in his second cry.

It was double success for Peter and his wife as on the Bank Holiday Monday at the Wimborne Minster town criers’ competition, Joan was crowned ‘best dressed escort’.

The next competition is in Exmouth on the 23rd May. Peter said, “We are thoroughly looking forward to Exmouth, rain or shine we will be there. We have to cry in all weathers.

“It is always such a brilliant day, we are all one happy family.”