History of the Guild

April 19, 2023

The Ancient & Honourable Guild of Town Criers (AHGTC) was founded at Hastings in 1978 when criers met after the British Championships and elected a Committee. One aim was to regularise the organisation of competitions and to define rules for town criers to follow.

In 1999 it was decided that the AHGTC should be formed into a limited company, limited by guarantee, to better protect the members. We hold an Annual General Meeting each year, usually in September.

Today, the AHGTC sanction and oversee numerous town crier competitions across the United Kingdom, including the prestigous annual Guild Championships, which attracts competitors from all over the world to compete for the stunning silver George Carpenter trophy.