This is Haslemere had the joy of meeting Haslemere’s Town Crier, Christian Ashdown. We met at his house and were offered tea in a Haslemere emblazoned mug and posh biscuits. Christian has a great sense of humour but he takes his volunteering role seriously as our town crier. You truly sense his pride when he talks about it.

Rather predictably, we asked if he had always wanted to be a town crier and how you actually become one. Christian revealed this is always the first question he is asked. Back in 2009, he didn’t actually know that town criers even existed. He had a vague thought that a town crier might simply dress up and attend the occasional village fete, like an AmDrammer!

It was at a 2019 Christmas event where Christian was helping out (two mulled wines for the punters and one for the volunteer Christian ;-)), where Terry Burns announced he was stepping down as Haslemere Town Crier after 22 years. Several business owners at the event told Christian he should become the new town crier! You see, Christian had just left the Household Cavalry and they thought he’d be perfect. He wasn't so sure saying that never in his life could he wear what Mr Burns was wearing!

After a few conversations, lots of research and learning about The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, Christian became Haslemere’s Town Crier at the 2010 Charter Fair.

The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers was formed in 1978, perhaps not so ancient but most definitely honourable. As a member, you are invited to town crier competitions and you can host ones yourself. A few years after becoming a town crier, Christian was invited to join the board of the guild, quickly became membership secretary and he is now chairman overseeing 170 town criers. Jokingly, he thanked former South West Surrey MP, Jeremy Hunt, for unknowingly assisting him as membership secretary. Mr Hunt opened the 2012 Olympics where he rang a handbell and the handbell itself flew off and hit a woman. Christian saw an opportunity. He began a small campaign of contacting town councils that had town criers who were not members of the guild. His pitch was simple. As a member, you automatically have public liability insurance as part of your subscription. He shared the video link of Mr Hunt’s bell flying off into the crowd with town and parish council clerks up and down the land and significantly grew the guild membership. He thanks Mr. Hunt for inadvertently helping but is keen to emphasise that as a town crier you cannot get into town politics. It is a purely apolitical role.

Members of the guild receive an annual publication, The Crier Magazine, which is edited by Christian’s wife, Mo Ashdown.

We observed that Christian’s town crier uniform is very different from other town criers. Most town criers wear the old tricorn hat which is a very Georgian look and that was probably from when town criers were in their heyday. At the time of the industrial revolution, a lot of workers coming into towns from the countryside were illiterate and the town crier stepped into the role of sharing news, for example, market openings and lost dogs etc. Haslemere was not a great place in Georgian times. It was a rotten borough. It was not until the railway came and Alfred Lord Tennyson and other arts and crafts figures arrived that Haslemere thrived. Christian chose a Victorian look for his uniform with his top hat and dark herringbone frock coat. His first coat was made by the Haslemere Wardrobe and was funded by Haslemere Town Council and the Chamber of Trade. His first top hat was a gift from Signature Care Homes. His trousers and boots are from his old regiment. Christian pondered if one day Haslemere Town Council might fund a horse …

Being a town crier is a civic role. Christian’s biggest duty is Remembrance Day where he manages the timings for the parade from St. Bartholomew’s Church to the War Memorial, ensuring The Last Post is at the correct time. He oversees the laying of the wreaths so the names are displayed. Other key roles include The Charter Fare, where he is out and about meeting and greeting, The Christmas Fair and The Haslemere Carol Service. This year was his first time leading the wassail parade at Swan Barn Farm. It’s not all shouting though, he’s keen to add!

Proudly, Christian shared that he was asked by Buckingham Palace to write a proclamation that was read out on the 80th anniversary of D-Day by most Town Criers in the Commonwealth on 6th June 2024.

Christian also hosts and takes part in town crier competitions. These competitions began in 1912 when Billy Law, Horsham’s town crier issued a challenge to all the other town criers to compete in the ‘Battle of the Bellmen’. This came about as he wanted to prove he was the best town crier and make the point that he should get help funding his livery. It was sponsored by the Daily Express and around 9,000 people turned up to watch the 38 contestants take part on February 23 in Devizes. Billy won the day and was presented with a handsome bell as victor of the Town Criers Championship of Great Britain. He also won five whole pounds, a tour of the music halls and Horsham dressed him in his finery.

Christian says it is great to represent Haslemere at competition. The first competition cry is the one that tells everyone why to come to Haslemere. The second cry is a theme chosen by the competition host. He has won best dressed town crier three times as well as winning The Best Crier at the Guild Championships outside Windsor Castle, beating 38 other criers in 2018. In competition, you have to speak 120 words, with three oyezs to begin and a “God Save The King” at the end. They really do draw a crowd and they are judged on Volume, Clarity, Inflection and Diction.

Christian also separately earns money for the mayor’s charities by giving talks which usually last an hour. He will be giving a talk, Carry On Crying, at this year’s Haslemere Festival. Also coming up, Christian will lead Haslemere’s VE Day celebrations on Lion Green in May, when he will talk about VE Day and where the West Surrey regiments were serving.

Rather morbidly Christian talked about a town crier’s funeral, how other town criers carry your coffin. We asked if he’d request to be buried with his horse. As though he thought we had not been listening, he decried that he has not got his horse yet…