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| Oxfordshire town crier Anthony Church lied about Army background | Oxfordshire town crier Anthony Church lied about Army background |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A town crier who took part in the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony has said he is "so ashamed" after it emerged he invented a career in the armed forces. | A town crier who took part in the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony has said he is "so ashamed" after it emerged he invented a career in the armed forces. |
| Oxford's town crier Anthony Church had claimed he was a "regimental sergeant major" and wore a Falklands medal. | Oxford's town crier Anthony Church had claimed he was a "regimental sergeant major" and wore a Falklands medal. |
| Mr Church, 63, said he had been "very stupid" and apologised to genuine members of the armed forces. | Mr Church, 63, said he had been "very stupid" and apologised to genuine members of the armed forces. |
| He has resigned from his position as Oxford town crier and from the same role in five other places. | |
| Mr Church, 63, whose voice could reach 118 decibels, had attended town crying events around the country and even appeared on television making bogus claims about his background. | Mr Church, 63, whose voice could reach 118 decibels, had attended town crying events around the country and even appeared on television making bogus claims about his background. |
| 'Absolutely distraught' | 'Absolutely distraught' |
| But allegations he had fabricated his military career surfaced on the internet on Sunday. | But allegations he had fabricated his military career surfaced on the internet on Sunday. |
| He told BBC Radio Oxford: "When I became town crier, when people questioned me about my background I stupidly told them I am an ex-serviceman... that is absolutely not true. I have never served in the military." | He told BBC Radio Oxford: "When I became town crier, when people questioned me about my background I stupidly told them I am an ex-serviceman... that is absolutely not true. I have never served in the military." |
| Mr Church admitted buying medals to wear but said the British Empire Medal he donned had belonged to his father, an RAF pilot | Mr Church admitted buying medals to wear but said the British Empire Medal he donned had belonged to his father, an RAF pilot |
| He added: "It was very stupid and I categorically now apologise to everybody who has served in the forces. It was never my intention to cause any distress or upset. | He added: "It was very stupid and I categorically now apologise to everybody who has served in the forces. It was never my intention to cause any distress or upset. |
| "I made a mistake, I told someone I'd served and it's been going on from there. I can't apologise enough for the hurt and distress it has probably caused people." | "I made a mistake, I told someone I'd served and it's been going on from there. I can't apologise enough for the hurt and distress it has probably caused people." |
| He added that he was "absolutely distraught". | He added that he was "absolutely distraught". |
| "How can I stand on a street corner and have people come up to me? People will probably feel, with hindsight, that I have misled them," he said. | "How can I stand on a street corner and have people come up to me? People will probably feel, with hindsight, that I have misled them," he said. |
| As well as standing down from the Oxford job, Mr Church has resigned as town crier for Wallingford, Chipping Norton, Banbury, Daventry and Thame. | As well as standing down from the Oxford job, Mr Church has resigned as town crier for Wallingford, Chipping Norton, Banbury, Daventry and Thame. |
| Helen Stewart, town clerk of Thame, said she had accepted the resignation of Mr Church, whom she described as "well liked and jovial". | |
| "It's very unfortunate. We can't understand what compelled him, but the consequences will have a significant effect on him and his future," she said. |