Champion crier, Carole Williams, set to defend title

Carole, who has held the ceremonial role in Bishop’s Stortford since 1996, will face the best of the best when she takes part in the Lord Mayor of Chester’s Invitational World Tournament in June.  She is the reigning World No.1 female crier and also the highest ranking in the UK.  She has been presented with a commemorative teapot by Stortford mayor Cllr Colin Woodward to present to the host town.

During the week-long competition, Carole will have to deliver three cries on stage in front of Chester town hall, including her hometown cry extolling the attractions of Bishop’s Stortford. She will also have to give a historic proclamation. She will be judged on a range of criteria, including diction and inflection. Her partner Paul Gough, who is the town crier of Nuneaton and Bedworth, will also compete. Carole said: “I’m extremely proud to be Stortford’s town crier and to represent my hometown across the country and throughout the world. I’ll be giving it my very best shot.”