This weekend will see the 30th anniversary of The Sir Francis Drake Armada Cup Town Crier competition.
Today, on Friday, July 27, the competing Town Criers will go head to head in Salcombe at Overbecks, commencing at 11am. The subject for the cry is a Home Cry.
After the competition, there will be a presentation of prizes by Roger Pinder from Overbecks followed by a buffet meal at the Ring O’Bells pub in West Alvington.
The following day, on Saturday, July 28, visitors are encouraged to head down to Quay House in Kingsbridge for the second stage of the competition, starting at 10.30am. The subject for the cry is an Open Cry.
The prizes will be presented by the mayor of the town, Anne Balkwill and Roger Pinder before all the Criers and Consorts will enjoy a meal at the Creeks End on the Quay.
For the final leg of the competition the Town Criers will be in Dartmouth, meeting at Bayards Cove Inn for 9.30am. The subject of the cry is Sir Francis Drake, to commemorate 30 years of the event in Dartmouth.
Before the performances starting at 11am, the Town Criers will go on a parade along the South Embankment to the Royal Avenue Gardens led by one of the Criers playing the bagpipes.
Les Ellis, Town Crier for Dartmouth and Rob Lyon, mayor of the town, will be presenting the prizes, before a meal at the Anzac Club.
There are three local trophies to be won as well as the Armada Cup which is awarded to the Town Crier with the most points over the three days.
There will also be a special guest cry from Oliver Day from Stoke Gabriel who is the UK’s youngest Town Crier at the age of nine.
Other criers have travelled from as far as Bermuda, Canada and even Australia to compete in the South Hams this weekend.