Potton’s Town Crier
Carlton Avison – Potton’s Town Crier
Carlton Avison, is Potton’s Town Crier. We are extremely fortunate to have a Town Crier in Potton as there are less than 200 official members of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers in the United Kingdom.
Key attributes for a Town Crier are the ability to read, a loud voice and an air of authority. A town crier, also called a bellman, is an officer of a royal court or public authority and makes public pronouncements as required. Traced back to medieval times (two bellmen appear in the Bayeaux Tapestry, which depicts the invasion of England by William of Normandy and the Battle of Hastings in 1066), they were the chief means of news communication with the townspeople, as many were illiterate.
In England, town criers announce the births of royal heirs and occasionally the arrival of the royal family as degreed by The Pageant Master of the Royal Household. Potton’s Town Crier will be announcing the arrival of Duke of Gloucester on the 28th February 2025 at the official opening of the Potton Hall for All. The Town Crier will also be in attendance at events throughout the year including VE Day 80 Proclamation on the 8th May 2025.
It is more than likely that you will hear our Town Crier before you see him, as he rings his handbell and shouts ‘Oyez, Oyez, Oyez’ to attract your attention prior to making an announcement. The word ‘Oyez’ (pronounced ‘oh yay’) comes from the French ouïr (‘to listen’) and means “Hear ye”, which is a call for silence and attention. The cry then ends with the words, ‘God save the King’.
As Town Crier, Carlton has attended
HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022
The Proclamation of HM King Charles III in September 2022
HM King Charles III’s Coronation event in May 2023
Potton Apple Day in September 2023
On 20th February 2024, Carlton was accepted as a member of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, and presented with a certificate at the Potton Community Celebration on Monday 26th February.
The Royal Proclamation – Monday 6th May 2024
To proclaim the first anniversary of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
D-Day 80 – Thursday 6th June 2024.
D-Day 80 Proclamation – 8am.