Town Criers Contest (1952)

Unissued / unused footage - dates and locations may be unclear or unknown. Town Criers’ contest in Hastings, East Sussex. M/S of town crier with child, also dressed up as town crier. Procession of town criers parade past the town hall. Crowds watch them go by. The criers walk across Alexandra Park where people applaud them. M/S of judges walking towards camera - they are Annette Mills (of ’Muffin the Mule’ fame), baritone Dennis Noble an RSM RW Smith of the Coldstream Guards. Three criers look on, bells in hands. The judges go into a marquee. Pan along line of seated dignitaries outside the Town Hall. C/U of white dog. Several shots of people sitting in deckchairs and applauding. L/Ss of the contest in progress in the park. C/U of criers’ speech starting ’Oyez! Oyez!’. C/Us of Town Criers pouring bottles of beer into glasses and drinking them. Several shots of Town Criers walking onto the platform and starting their speeches. Beauty Queen and others in mediaeval costume pose w