On the hottest day of the year, Warwick Town Criers Competition welcomed fifteen Criers from ten different Counties.

The given cry this year was “Pageant” as this year it is One-Hundred and Twenty years since the Warwick Pageant took place. The pageant of 1906 took place to celebrate the One Hundredth anniversary of the Conquest of Mercia.

At the first Warwick Pageant an actor played Guy of Warwick on horse back, and we replicated that with a wonderful horse led procession into Market Square, followed by official photographs at The Lord Leycester. 

Ten of the fifteen Criers then had travelled more than 80 miles performed a sponsored cry outside local businesses, which really drew a crowd. That was great for the businesses and helped the criers with their travel costs.

After lunch, the crowds gathered in Pageant Gardens for the main competition at 2pm

Congratulations to Kevin Ward from Bromsgrove who was crowned this year’s winner and took home the Gold Bear and trophy.

Paul Gough of Bedworth and Nuneaton took home the Silver Bear, and Mike Wabe of Watton took home the Bronze Bear.

This year, for the first time we worked with Three Primary Schools. Stage one was to write a cry, those were whittled done to the best three in each of the schools, stage three was a Cry-off at each of the Schools. Teepees of Warwick Sponsored the Junior Criers, who each got a Criers dressing up outfit to keep, a Knitted Town Crier and a Gold Bear for the School  to A special well done also goes to our three Junior Criers finalists who all did an amazing job. Congratulations to Jessica from Coten End, who was crowned our Junior Crier.

As a special prize Jessica will perform here winning Cry at the opening night of the Warwick Folk Festival.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event throughout the day. The sunshine stayed with us and the atmosphere and crowd support were incredible from start to finish ☀️ 

Special thanks to People Arches Limited, franchise holder of McDonald’s Warwick, our main sponsor of the competition, and to all of the staff, volunteers and organisers who helped make the day such a success.

Warwick is very proud, and we are honoured to host such a wonderful tradition.