ANYONE who had forgotten that 2012 is the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will get a very loud reminder.
Oxford will host a town crier competition on Saturday, July 2, with 13 large-lunged competitors arriving in the city from across the UK including Walsall, Kidderminster, Yeovil and Swindon.
The 13 town criers will battle for the top spot after first parading through the streets of Oxford city centre in their finest regalia.
Oxford town crier Anthony Church is organising the contest to celebrate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
Mr Church said: “All town criers swear allegiance to the Crown.
“Town criers have been under royal edict since 1066 when William the Conqueror came.”
As organiser, Mr Church will not be competing himself to preserve the spirit of fair play.
On the day, the competitors will follow the Lord Mayor from the Town Hall through the city, past the Westgate Centre, to Oxford Castle where the competition will begin.
Once there the competitors will take the floor one by one to proclaim the Queen’s ascension to the throne.
After lunch, the 13 town criers will each inform the crowds of a major news event from her reign.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here