Page 5 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • May 2003
Making a big noise about Swindon. There's a lot to shout about.
The town's noisiest promoter is planning to spread the good name of Swindon around the planet when he competes in the Town Crier World
Championships in May.
Taking place in Newquay, Corn- vited to shout at Swindon Council 120 town criers who have entered but the judges also want clarity
wall from 17 May, Fred Ferris from events in the town centre, he even the world championships will take and inflexion," said Fred. "This year
Penhill will be calling people from has to pay to park his car. place over a series of rounds. the organisers have introduced a
around the globe to focus their Wearing a green, black and gold Shouts have to be between 75 and new category of discipline. There
attention on Swindon, and dis- ceremonial outfit of a 19th Con- 100 words and cover a range of will be somebody keeping an eye
cover the delights of the town. tury station master on the Great subjects. Fred's working on three on competitors to see how we con-
Fred, 71, is unpaid for his efforts Western Railway, completed by a main cries, his standard shout duct ourselves during the week.
and has spent thousands from his large brass bell, Fred was pro- about how good Swindon is, one "I enjoy being an ambassador
pension each year since he was claimed the best dressed towncrier extolling the delights of Cornwall. for the town. There's a great deal
appointed town crier at the Old in the country last year by the Town He does not practice shouts at to shout about Swindon."
Town Festival in 1997. He covers Criers' Association. home so as to not to over-use his
his travelling costs to town crying Now with the world champion- voice, much to the appreciation of • Old Town Festival in July: stall
competitions around the country ships in his sights, Fred is hoping his neighbours. holders and volunteer helpers
as far afield as Blackpool, Hud- the town will be cheering him on. "Volume is an important factor, wanted - see page 27.
dersfield and Hastings, and often "WhereverIgoIdistributeleaflets
pays for his accommodation when about Swindon," said Fred. "Peo-
not provided by organisers. ple are very keen to know about
On the rare occasions he is in- the Steam Museum and always ask r
me questions about my y -
GWR uniform. I really LI W'
enjoy telling everybody Hucke
about the town and Belinda Ch'ng
what it has to offer."
Luis Civit
In the six years he Joseph Ribkoff
has been shouting for Doris Streich
Swindon, Fred is dis-
appointed that his Alterna
services have not been Solola
fully used. "It's unfor- Mamut
tunate the council as 26 Wood Street
well as businesses in
the town have not Old Town, Swindon
asked me to do more Tel: 513196
calling. "They don't
have to pay me, not
even expenses. My Making Your IT
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•
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