Dartmouth Town Crier wins Devon County Champion at Newton Abbot competition.

On Saturday, September 9th, Lez and Liz represented Dartmouth at the annual Newton Abbot town crier’s competition held in the town centre. There were 14 criers from all over the South West region taking part. There were two cries: A ‘home’ cry and the second was about Newton Abbot’s connection with Newfoundland.

The competition included a trophy for the ‘Devon County Champion’ which was awarded to Dartmouth Town Crier, Lez Ellis, as the top scoring Devon Town Crier. The last time the ‘Devon County Champion’ was awarded to Dartmouth was when Peter Randall won it in 2001.

The winner of the Newton Abbot competition was Mark Wylie from Calne, Wiltshire and second was Andrew Fox from Ilminster, Somerset. Lez came third in the Newton Abbot competition and Liz won the best dressed escort. Best dressed couple were Roy and Bee Goodwin from Ilfracombe and best dressed crier was Jaquie Edwards from Kingsteignton.

Lez Ellis said: “In the very near future we are representing Dartmouth at Widecome Fair on Tuesday, September, 12th; at Calne, Wiltshire on Saturday, September 30th, and at Callington (Honey Fair) on Wednesday, October 4th.

“Next year we will be celebrating 30 years of the Sir Francis Drake Armada Cup. The competition will start on Friday, July 27th, at Overbecks, (National Trust) in Salcombe and end in Royal Avenue Gardens on the following Sunday, July 29th.”