10th August 2011

LYME REGIS: Town crier is leaving Lyme

Phil Street steps down to take new job in France

by Philip Evans

LYME Regis’ champion town crier Phil Street has resigned and is leaving the town to take up a new job in France.

Mr Street, 45, who has held the post for 18 years, tendered his resignation to town clerk Mike Lewis this week and will officially inform town councillors at their meeting this evening.

Mr Street, two times national champion, has also resigned as chairman of the Lyme Regis-St George’s Twinning Association but will return to Lyme Regis for Candles On The Cobb 2012 to assist his long-time fellow fundraiser and great friend Mike Higgs.

Between them the pair have raised over £100,000 for national and local charities through a variety of fundraising activities, including the spectacular Candles On The Cobb event. 

Mr Street’s departure will leave a huge hole in the community and civic life of Lyme Regis. He has also been heavily involved in other major Lyme events overs the years, including the Christmas Lights Committee, Jazz Festival and Easter Bonnet Parade Committee as well as the civic processions in the town.

New home

Mr Street is currently employed as a project manager for the helicoptor maunfacturer AgustaWestland in Yeovil but will be moving to France to take up a new position as an air worthiness engineer with National Helicopters Industries, a conortium of major helicopter manufacturers in Europe which includes his present employer, Agusta Westland.

Mr Street will be based in Aix-en-Provence, 15 miles north of Marseilles, one of the most beautiful areas of France where he will be making is new home.

Mr Street has been a regular visitor to France where his parents own a cottage in Normady but says he will have to work on his conversational French before taking up his new post.

Wife Dawn, who works in Lyme’s Tourist Information Centre and has given huge support to her husband in all his community work, will be joning Phil in France with daughter Amy when she finishes school next year. Son Luke is off to university in September.

Mr Street, who has worked for Westland in Yeovil since leaving school 29 years ago, told the View from Lyme Regis: “I regret having to stand down as town crier and chairman of the twinning association, which I have enjoyed so much over the past 18 years, but this is a great opportunity and a life-changing experience for me and my family. 

“I have no doubt that other people will come forward and step into my shoes.”

Mr Street said that the family would keep their home in King’s Way and he will be returning to Lyme Regis as often as he could.

He added that he would definitely return home to help Mike Higgs stage Candles On The Cobb in August 2012.

He missed the last Candles event in 2008 when he was working for AgustaWestland for five months in the United States, but he was able to watch the event via the town’s webcam and saw his named spelt out in candles in the sand. 

“It was a very emotional moment,” he said.

Mr Street took over as town crier from former world champion Richard Fox MBE and since then has served the town as a brilliant ambassador, winning many accolades and trophies along the way.

His town crier successes include the Kingsbridge Commonwealth Championship, Bermuda International champion, four times Dorset County champion, two times South West of England champion, two times national champion, two times National Open champion, European runner-up and sixth and seventh places in the World championships on two occasions.

He has travelled to Australia, Bermuda, France and all over the United Kingdom promoting the town and took his ceremonial duties at civic functions very seriously.

With Mike Higgs he was also responsible for raising tens of thousands of pounds over the years at local auctions for good causes.

He is also a keen stage performer, following in the Street tradition, and has been a committee member of the Pantomime Society for six years. He has appeared in ten pantomimes as a principle caharcater and in ten variety shows, numerous family productions and five Dramatic Society plays.

Tributes to Mr Street’s contribution to community life in Lyme Regis have been pouring into the View From offices all week.

The town council issued the following statement: “The town council was saddened to receive Phil’s letter of resignation from the honorary post of town crier. Phil has been an excellent ambassador for the town, supporting and enhancing very many civic and community events during his 18 years behind the bell. 

“His enthusiastic and professional approach to his role has seen him emerge victorious from a number of national and international town crier competitions travelling to Australia, Bermuda, France, Belgium and Wales to represent the town and its organisations.

“Phil will be a hard act to follow and the council will now consider the best way of recruiting to this important post. When Phil was appointed, candidates were asked to ‘cry’ their application to councillors and it may be that a similar process is adopted this time round.

“On behalf of all past and present members, officers and staff of the town council, I would like to thank Phil for his commitment to the role of town crier and wish him every succcess in the future.”

The Mayor, Councillor Sally Holman, paid her own tribute to Mr Street saying the he would be a “huge loss” to the community.

PICTURES: (top) Phil Street in full cry as Lyme’s champion town crier, having carried out over 900 duties during his 18 years in the job; (bottom) Lyme's answer to Morecambe and Wise - Phil Street and Mike Higgs pictured at the re-opening of the Marine Parade shelters

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