The National Town Criers’ Championship is held annually in Hastings as part of Hastings Week, held to mark the Saxon defeat by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings, which took place on 14 October 1066. This wonderful, traditional event is under threat.
Please support this plea.: Jon Bartholomew, Hastings town crier, posted this on his Facebook page:
"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen and townsfolk of Hastings and St Leonard’s. It has been brought to my attention that our council in this next budget is about to axe funding for the famous Hastings National Town Criers’ Championship this year.
"This effectively puts an end to another attraction to our town during Hastings Week.
The national championship hosted by Hastings is the oldest ongoing town crier competition in the world! It is with a heavy heart and dismay that, after twenty-five years of service to this town, this seemingly uninterested council throws away, without any foresight, this chapter of our heritage.
"Town criers from around the UK and Europe bid for a place in this competition and it is my task to host them on your behalf and bring more money into our town. However, on February 3, if no one apart from myself makes a noise on the My Hastings Matters web pages we will lose this forever.
"This year is the 70th anniversary of this competition – for seventy years we have played host and made it a success. Please help me; say your piece and at least, let’s go out with a bang! God save the king."
Paul Goring, Rye’s town crier added, "It is an awful, short-sighted decision, ending funding for a historic and popular event, which attracts international attention, in what should have been its 70th anniversary year. Please make your views known via Hastings Borough Council's budget consultation web page."
