On Wednesday, Roger Hewitt will don his town crier regalia and read one of his hand-written short scripts opening Knaresborough market.

It’s something Roger has done every Wednesday for more than eight years, making him one of the most familiar faces — and voices — in Knaresborough.

But this will be the last time he performs the civic duty, which stretches back to the 1600s, before retiring.

He remains an incredibly popular figure, so why is he stepping down?

“I’m not getting any younger. I think things are going quite well at the moment but I don’t want to carry on until people say ‘it’s time form the poor bugger to go’.”

Roger has a fine line in self-deprecation. He describes himself as a Knaresborough incomer, having only lived in the town for 44 years. He taught chemistry at Harrogate Grammar School for 23 years before becoming town crier. He says:

“I’ve bumped into many people I used to know from my teaching days and from what I can see, I don’t think I have done any serious psychological harm to any of them.”

The pirate of the Nidd. Picture by Charlotte Gale

The town crier role, which is managed by Knaresborough & District Chamber, appealed because he was “coming up to retirement age and the wife was keen for me to have something to do”.

Roger’s background in amateur dramatics, alongside his humour, people skills and commitment to the role  —  he often agrees to appear at coffee mornings and charity events above and beyond the call of duty — have made him the perfect town crier. It’s worked for him, too.

“I’ve loved it. It’s been absolutely brilliant. The best part is meeting kids. They all think I’m a pirate. All I need to do is let them ring the bell and it’s like someone has given them the best Christmas present ever.”

Although Roger is leaving the role, he’s most certainly not leaving Knaresborough. He says he and his wife would like to do something together now. What makes the town so special?

“I think it’s the combination of history and scenery. People walk around for the most part with a smile, partly because there are so many pubs but also because it’s such a nice place.”

Tradition dictates he opens the Wednesday market at 11am even though, as he puts it, “the fish man is nearly sold out by then”.

He writes 150 to 200 words for each cry, which lasts about 90 seconds and always includes three ‘Oyez’ and ‘God save the King’. He admits to one time mistakenly shouting ‘God save the Queen’ after she had died.

Roger helped to select his successor Mark Hunter (third from left).

Does he have any advice for his successor, Mark Hunter, who in a break from tradition will also have two deputies?

“The only advice I would give is to do your own thing and enjoy it. I’ve said I’ll give him two things — my best wishes and my phone number. I won’t be there telling him what to do but if he has any questions I will happily answer them.”

How will he feel after making his final cry?

“I know how I will feel an hour afterwards because one of the pubs has invited me round!

“I shall be nostalgic for what has been a very, very happy eight years but also happy to hand over to someone else.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough town crier Roger Hewitt to retire
• Mark Hunter wins contest to be Knaresborough’s next town crier

Mark Hunter has won a contest to become Knaresborough’s next town crier.

In a ‘cry-off’ with two other entrants described by organisers as “almost too close to call”, Mr Hunter was selected to succeed Roger Hewitt.

The competition took place during Knaresborough Community Festival on Saturday, which celebrated the town’s many community organisations.

Organised by the Knaresborough & District Chamber, which manages the town crier position, the event saw competitors give renditions of Mr Hewitt’s pre-prepared cry and their own original contributions.

Retiring town crier Roger Hewitt introduces the second round of the competition. Pic: Charlotte-Gale

Mr Hewitt and fellow judges Cllr Kathryn Davies, Mayor of Knaresborough and chamber executive member Charlotte Gale selected Mr Hunter to be the town’s next town crier and the other two candidates — Leigh Hudson and Andrew Richards — to serve as deputies.

Knaresborough-born and bred Mr Hunter has sung in the choir at St John’s Church and is the church’s current director of music.

He is also a keen amateur naturalist and wildlife photographer.

Ms Gale said:

“We’re delighted to invite Mark to be Knaresborough’s next town crier.

“It was a fantastic competition and we’d like to thank all our contestants for the huge effort they put into it and for their entertaining performances on the day. It certainly made the role of judging a tough one.

“We will be very sad to see Roger go and we’d like to pay tribute to eight years of outstanding service, but we are also looking forward to a new chapter and the continuation of this historic role in Knaresborough.”

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Mayor of Knaresborough Kathryn Davies added:

“Records show there has been a town crier in Knaresborough since the early 1600s, although the tradition probably dates back to earlier times.

“In those days the town crier used to be called the bell man. Literacy amongst the general populace would have been low and the bell man fulfilled an important role in delivering news to local townsfolk.

“Although literacy rates are now much improved, the popularity of the role means that Knaresborough Town Council, Knaresborough and District Chamber and the people of Knaresborough are keen to maintain this important tradition for the town.”

Main pic: Charlotte Gale, Leigh Hudson, Mark Hunter, Roger Hewitt, Mayor Kathryn Davies and Andrew Richards (entrant)

A new town crier will be chosen for Knaresborough this weekend as the community comes together to build new connections.

Knaresborough Community Festival is being held for the third time to offer groups and organisations around the town a chance to spread the word about what they offer.

Visitors will be able to enjoy taster sessions, ask questions and sign up for everything from Guides and Scouts to dance classes, theatre groups, Parkrun and even the town council.

A total of almost 40 organisations will be represented, along with live music and other entertainment.

Matt Read of Knaresborough Connectors said:

“We did the first community festival nearly three years ago at Knaresborough House as we came out of lockdown. We had about 25 community groups then.

“Knaresborough Connectors was the community support organisation for Knaresborough in the pandemic. We ran the festival to help people reconnect.

“There were a number of community groups that lost three-quarters of their membership and others had to close. It was a case of reconnecting people and joining the dots in the community.”

Town crier contest

An unusual feature of this year’s event will be a competition to find the next town crier, after Roger Hewitt announced his retirement from the post he has held for the last eight years.

It will see three candidates put through two rounds in front of the crowd, who will be encouraged to cheer for their favourites.

The contest will be judged by Mr Hewitt and the Mayor of Knaresborough, Cllr Kathryn Davies, with the winner to be announced at a later date.

Charlotte Gale of Knaresborough and District Chamber, which has organised the competition, said:

“Roger, the current town crier, has written a cry that they will be reading out in the first round. They have also been asked to prepare their own original cry for the second round. It should be a fun competition.”

Knaresborough Community Festival runs from 10am to 4pm at Meadowside Primary Academy on Halfpenny Lane tomorrow. The event is free and visitors are invited to bring picnics, or to buy food provided by the school’s PTA.

Full details are available on the Knaresborough Connectors website.

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