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AN Abingdon guild is calling on residents to help carry on the decades-olds tradition of town crying.

Members of the Abingdon Guild of Town Criers believe that the group is unique to the town, but fear that the tradition will not be able to continue without more volunteers.

The guild started in 2000 with six members but, due to sickness and retirement, its numbers have been halved to three regular town criers and two who help out now and again.

Lesley Legge, leader of Abingdon Town Council, said that the town had always had a town crier and the guild was set up so that volunteers could take it in turns to don the green robe and ring the bell.

She said: "It's probably the newest guild and seems to fit in with the tradition of Abingdon being one of the oldest towns, but we are down two members."

Julie Mayhew-Archer, town councillor, said: "They are greatly in demand for things and they raise money for the mayor's charities."

Peter Green has been a member of the guild since it began.

He said: "Being a town crier, you need to be fairly extrovert and have a good voice, love meeting people and be fairly sociable.

"We just try to do what we can to keep the colourful position of a town crier going and it's a lot of fun."

The guild gathers twice a year for a formal meeting, followed by cheese and wine in the mayor's parlour. To find out more about joining the guild, contact the town council on 01235 522642.

1:11pm Friday 9th May 2008

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