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Oyez! Bromsgrove town crier marks 40 years in post Oyez! Bromsgrove town crier marks 40 years in post
(about 7 hours later)
Kevin Ward said he planned to continue in the role for many years Worcestershire town crier aiming to break records
Kevin Ward believes he was born to be a town crier.Kevin Ward believes he was born to be a town crier.
"I've always been loud, I've always been theatrical," he told the BBC."I've always been loud, I've always been theatrical," he told the BBC.
"You've got to be loud but you've got to be understood.""You've got to be loud but you've got to be understood."
Forty years ago, just months after first moving to Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, he applied to be the local town crier - and has been in the post ever since.Forty years ago, just months after first moving to Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, he applied to be the local town crier - and has been in the post ever since.
It appears the role was in his blood - he said his great great great grandfather was the last official town crier of Birmingham.It appears the role was in his blood - he said his great great great grandfather was the last official town crier of Birmingham.
And he first noticed he possessed a vital trait for the role himself when he was a boy.And he first noticed he possessed a vital trait for the role himself when he was a boy.
"My parents needed a six year-old at Cadbury's theatrical society with a loud voice so they had me appearing on stage at Cadbury's," he recalled."My parents needed a six year-old at Cadbury's theatrical society with a loud voice so they had me appearing on stage at Cadbury's," he recalled.
"It's a theatrical art form.""It's a theatrical art form."
Mr Ward applied for the role after seeing the job advert in a newspaper in 1985Mr Ward applied for the role after seeing the job advert in a newspaper in 1985
Mr Ward still attends between 80 to 100 events a year, turning up at everything from church fetes and competitions to council functions and Remembrance Day services.Mr Ward still attends between 80 to 100 events a year, turning up at everything from church fetes and competitions to council functions and Remembrance Day services.
"You are providing a service that has been provided literally for millennia," he said."You are providing a service that has been provided literally for millennia," he said.
"It does go down well…particularly when you get around Remembrance, Christmas, Easter.""It does go down well…particularly when you get around Remembrance, Christmas, Easter."
Memories that stand out across his career include seeing the Queen when she opened North Bromsgrove High School, her coronation, and her death.Memories that stand out across his career include seeing the Queen when she opened North Bromsgrove High School, her coronation, and her death.
'I'll just keep going''I'll just keep going'
Mr Ward said he always hoped that he would be in the job for many years and plans to carry on.Mr Ward said he always hoped that he would be in the job for many years and plans to carry on.
"The ancient tradition always was that a crier was appointed for life, and that the job stayed in the family... I'll just keep going, " he said."The ancient tradition always was that a crier was appointed for life, and that the job stayed in the family... I'll just keep going, " he said.
"Almost from the start, it's been an absolutely wonderful journey, I've thoroughly enjoyed it."Almost from the start, it's been an absolutely wonderful journey, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
"It's a hobby really, truth be known, but it's a magnificent hobby and I'm just grateful I can serve the people of Bromsgrove in the best way I possibly can.""It's a hobby really, truth be known, but it's a magnificent hobby and I'm just grateful I can serve the people of Bromsgrove in the best way I possibly can."
To mark Mr Ward's 40 years in the role, the National Town Crier Championships will take place in the town on 14 June, attracting town criers from across the country.To mark Mr Ward's 40 years in the role, the National Town Crier Championships will take place in the town on 14 June, attracting town criers from across the country.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.