Town crier Michael Wood (the 84th stranger) has won yet another award.
Michael, who lives in England’s East Riding of Yorkshire where I grew up, was voted Britain’s Best Town Crier Ambassador at the Loyal Company of Town Criers British Championship. The contest took place last month in Biddulph, Staffordshire, and Michael got an engraved clock for the prize.
“The award recognizes the work of a town crier during the quieter moments off the podium, when we meet and mingle with the public,” said Michael in a press release sent out by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council that he represents. “Our role is about more than making public announcements, it is also about being am ambassador of goodwill.”
Michael added, “It is not something I overtly go out to try and win, I just go about my business as best I can to help promote our beautiful county with a friendly smile and humor. Coming from Yorkshire, I have plenty to smile about.”
During our dinner interview last December, Michael told me about his fascinating life that included time in the armed forces, performing as a cowboy at supermarket promotions, and much more before settling on his now long-established career as a town crier.