TownCrier

You can contact Terry by phone - 07813 153490

History

A Brief History of Town Criers

After the Norman Conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror had many areas of England fortified, Lincoln being a fine example. The Castle at Lincoln was started in 1068, after 150 Saxon homes and families were removed from the site. Many years later, when it was completed, men called Waites were employed at the two entrances to the castle, between the hours of sunset and sunrise, the Curfew hours, to check on who attempted to gain admission to the castle. As a small population gradually grew close by the Castle, the job of the Waites was extended to patrol this area during the curfew hours. In order to raise the alarm, they were given a hand bell and in conjunction with a strong voice, they were able to warn the local population of any impending doom.

This led on to those same men using bell and voice in daylight hours to inform the populace of other things of interest, such as increasing taxation. So from this, Town Crying grew, with many of the participants being known as the Common Crier, as was the Lincoln Crier for many years. Some would be provided with uniforms and payment per job, or even, if lucky, a salary or stipend. In Lincoln in 1773, the Common Crier was paid 2 shillings and 6 pence for announcing the opening of the Hiring Fayre.

The advent of education and newspapers led to the demise of the Common Crier in many locations, but Town Criers nowadays fulfill a role in society, not unlike their predecessors, but more with a sense of humour and panache to many an occasion. They still communicate in the oldest method available, by word of mouth and can be found plying their trade in a wonderful array of circumstances and locations.

 

Gallery

Click to view some pictures from events

Services

Launching a Product

Got a new Product? Want to tell everyone about it? How about choosing the powerful voice of Town Crier Terry Stubbings to emphasize the amazing features of your new product? Either alongside your display area, or in the town of your choice, he will get the message across.

Weddings

Surprise the Bride and Groom by having a special proclamation made of their very special day. Terry will write and present a vocal tribute to the happy couple and afterwards give them a souvenir laminated copy of the scroll used on that day.

In Addition, Terry is a fully qualified Toastmaster and would be delighted to act as Toastmaster at your wedding, dressed in his 18th Century Town Criers Costume, instead of the traditional Red tail coat. What a totally different impact that would have on your wedding photographs!

Births & Christenings

A new arrival is always something to talk about. Let Terry tell the world of the event you are most proud of, by declaring the details of your newest family member in a different and novel way. Once again, leaving a laminated copy of the cry as a souvenir of the event.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Every one loves something special on their Birthday or Anniversary, so why not get Terry along to commemorate it in his own unique style, making it a day to remember. Even better if it is kept secret until the last minute.

Fetes & Fayres

Terry has a wealth of experience opening Fetes and Fayres all over the country. Once the opening ceremony is over, he is happy to encourage the visitors to take part in events and support the many stalls and activities which are sure to be present.

Business Openings

Opening a new business on the High Street? Get Terry along to make sure the throngs of shoppers know all about both the business and the wonderful products you have to offer.

Parades & Processions

Having spent over 16 years in the British Army, Terry is very experienced in organizing and leading Parades and Processions of all types. Call on his vast experience to ensure the event goes as smoothly as possible.

Talks.

Need an after dinner speaker? Got a group who meet regularly and enjoy interesting talks? Then you need Terry to come along and entertain them with a talk that is funny, informative and interesting, about Town Crying through the ages.

Master of Ceremonies.

If your corporate event, or gala dinner or charity fundraiser needs some one to tie up all the loose ends and make sure everything happens on time, in the right order, with the right people, then you need Terry’s organizing and presentation skills to do all of that.

For all of the above events, please contact Terry through any of the choices offered below.

Clients

Some of the Clients he has worked for.

 

City of Lincoln Council
Lincolnshire County Council
South Holland District Council
Kirton-in-Lindsey Town Council
Metheringham Parish Council
Debenhams
Hoppers the Jewellers
Bet Fred
British Airways Authority
Marshalls Yard Gainsborough
Gainsborough Town Council
Sayers Bakers
Bishop Grosseteste College
Potterhanworth Parish Council
The Stroke Association
R.N.I.B.
Specsaver
Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers.
Virgin Media.

In addition Terry has given talks to a great many W.I. branches, U3A groups, Probus Clubs and Rotary Clubs as well as assisting with ceremonies for the Freeman Association of Great Britain.

 

Testimonials

From some of my clients

"Dear Terry,
Congratulations on becoming the best Town Crier in the country – what a fantastic achievement for you, and of course the City of Lincoln. Well done to you, and Trish , on being voted the best dressed couple in the competition – a double whammey!" - Gillian Merron, Member of Parliament for Lincoln.

"Dear Terry,
Can I thank you very much for helping us with the BBC Radio Lincolnshire Yellowbelly Tour 2004. You gave us a really good start to the day and I and the staff here really appreciated you coming so early in full costume." - Maria, BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"Dear Terry,
On behalf of Joe and Frank, I would like to thank you for all your hard work on the evening of the St. Georges Day Ball. It is thanks to your talent as Toastmaster that everything ran smoothly." - Mrs. Lorraine Harrison, Secretary to Cooke Connell Charities.

"You gave a marvelous presentation, quite one of the best we’ve ever had!" - Nigel Rhodes, Nettleham & District Probus Club.

About

Terry Stubbings Lincoln City Town Crier

Terry was appointed as Town Crier to the City of Lincoln on Sunday 31st July 1994 after a very fiercely run competition involving 15 other would be Criers. After a brief wait, until his first regalia was made, he plunged keenly into the role under the watchful eye of members of the Loyal Company of Town Criers.

Becoming part of the Civic Department of the City of Lincoln, meant that Terry was involved in many important events in the City, including the Mayor Making Ceremony and the famous Lincoln Christmas Market.

Having been born in Lincolnshire, Terry takes great pride in wearing a Yellow waistcoat with his regalia, denoting the fact that he is a Lincolnshire Yellow Belly. The main outer greatcoat he can be seen wearing is either Green, or Blue trimmed with silver. Both outfits can be seen in the Gallery. Surmounted on the Tri-corn hat are the feathers declaring to the world that he is an educated man and representing quill pens, which would have been used by many of his predecessors.

Since taking the post of Town Crier, Terry has enjoyed much success in the competitive world of Town Crying. His most outstanding achievement was being declared the British Champion at the end of a very tough competition held by the Loyal Company of Town Criers in Durham in 2004. The following year he was pipped at the post in Swindon, coming runner up, by half a point. He has also been the Blackpool Champion on three occasions, North Wales Champion and has won or been placed on a number of occasions through out his career.

In 1995, Terry was involved in a unique event, when a Jumbo Jet was hired to fly from RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, to USAF Ramstein, in Germany, along with a complete aircraft load of passengers to enjoy a day with our Twin Town of Neustadt. This was the first time a commercial flight had used military airfields for departure and arrival. On arrival, Terry was the first person to exit the aircraft and give a special cry of greeting from the City of Lincoln, to both our twin town and the American hosts who allowed the landing to take place.

Since then, Terry, accompanied by his wife and Escort, Trish has represented the City of Lincoln and the Ancient Port of Gainsborough all over the UK and in Canada, picking up trophies and commendations everywhere they go. Terry is also called upon to do a wide variety of commercial work, including such events as declaring Duty Free Shops still available to the travelling public in Gatwick Airport, to opening Lincoln Christmas Market.He has also appeared on Calendar News, and Look North in the Yorkshire/Lincolnshire TV region, as well as Radio Lincolnshire. Many local summer fairs and Christmas markets in the region are opened by Terry, and many groups and organizations enjoy his talks on Town Crying through the Ages.

Now resident in Kirkby, Merseyside, Terry is no longer restricted to working in Lincolnshire and will happily travel anywhere he is able, to promote your event or activity, or to be your after dinner speaker. He is also a very experienced Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies, as well as being a Parade Marshall. His ability to write humorous lines for many occasions make him the ideal person to call on for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or similar events. If your event needs some advertising, or some colour to get it going, then call on Terry Stubbings, the ideal person to do just that.

Contact

For further infomation or an informal chat please call

Tel: 0151 5480644
Mbl: 07813 153490

or email me!

 

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