George to shout for Wotton (From Gazette Series)

George to shout for Wotton

A MAN with a big voice is off to Canada in the spring to represent Wotton-under-Edge in an international competition.

George Carpenter, Wotton's town crier, is travelling transatlantic to compete in the International Town Crier Tournament to be held on Vancouver Island in Canada.

Mr Carpenter, 67, has entered many competitions national and international during his 35-year career as Wotton town crier and despite not having won any in a while, he is still enthusiastic about his impending trip to Canada.

He told the Gazette: "I won a few competitions years ago but not in recent years. The thing is that if you don't enter them then there wouldn't be any competitions."

Wotton's crier received a special invitation to compete in the prestigious tournament, which is being held in May. Mr Carpenter said he is looking forward to the opportunity to catch up with the many friends he has made during the years of competing.

He said: "The tournament is invitation only and they automatically send them out to registered criers which included me.

"It will be nice because you get to know the other criers over a period of time. "I have friends who I keep in contact with by email - they are in Australia and in different parts of Canada, Toronto and Nova Scotia."

The now retired carpenter entered his first town crier competition in 1976 in Hastings in Sussex and achieved an honourable eighth place. It was not until he entered another national town crier competition again held in Hastings in 1985 that he tasted victory for the first time.

Mr Carpenter lives in Wotton with his wife Pauline, 67, and enjoys travelling across the globe to represent his hometown.

He said: "What I love most about being town crier is meeting people but also having the opportunity to promote the town. Wherever you go and compete they always introduce you with where you are from.

"It's surprising how many people know where Wotton is. Even in somewhere like Vancouver people will have heard of Wotton-under-Edge."

Mr Carpenter has already received the support of Wotton Town Council who have agreed to give a small donation towards the cost of entering the International Town Crier Tournament.

The town council will be giving Mr Carpenter £200 towards his entry and in doing so wished him the best of luck.

At their recent town council meeting Mayor and chairman of the council Cllr Elizabeth Warren said: "We wish him the best of luck and hope he enjoys his time."