22nd September 2011

LYME REGIS Great honour for retiring town crier

By Francesca Evans

TOWN councillors gave huge praise to retiring town crier Phil Street as he was made the second ever Honourary Freeman of the Town of Lyme Regis on Wednesday evening.

Mr Street was accompanied by wife Dawn, daughter Amy, his parents, best friend Mike Higgs and his wife Sue at the extraordinary meeting of the town council, in which it was unanimously decided to make him an Honourary Freeman of the Town for his 18 years service as town crier.

The Mayor, in full civic dress and accompanied by macebearers Derek Hallett and Stuart King, proposed the honour be bestowed upon Mr Street, seconded by Councillor Barbara Austin.

Town clerk Mike Lewis said this was the “highest honour the town council had the privilege to bestow”, marking Mr Street’s “exceptional service to the community”.

He added that his loyalty as town crier had been “exemplary” and had been carried out with “enthusiasm and professionalism”. Mr Lewis said that Mr Street should be especially commended for his fundraising and “active and inspirational” chairmanship of the Lyme Regis and St George’s Twinning Association.

Councillors Austin and Michaela Ellis both thanked Mr Street for his service during their time as Mayor of the town. Councillor Daryl Turner said the last person to receive the freedom of the town was former headteacher of the Woodroffe School, Major Thornton Pearn, adding: “He was remarkable and so are you.”

Previous to this, town clerk and Alderman Albert Lane was made a Freeman of the Borough of Lyme Regis before it was dissolved in the 1970s.

Councillor Terry O’Grady said: “Thank you on behalf of the whole community. We are not just losing a town crier but a major asset to our town.”

After being presented with a sealed and illuminated scroll, Mr Street gave an emotional reply. He told councillors he had only found out about the honour that morning and said: “I have thought all day about something to say but just haven’t been able to get my words together. Thank you, I’m lost for words.”

He then handed the town clerk his staff, bell and town crier’s badge.

Mr Street will move to France this month to take up a new job following his promotion at Augusta Westland Helicopters.

• Councillors later discussed the best way to find a replacement town crier.

It was decided to advertise the position in the local press and to hold a full council meeting, during which candidates would be interviewed and asked to give a general cry written for them, as Mr Street had done when he took on the position following the retirement of Richard Fox.

Councillor Owen Lovell requested that, as well as the general cry, candidates be asked to write their own cry as it had become apparent over the years that Mr Street was very good at this.

PICTURE: WHAT AN HONOUR - Phil Street on the Guildhall steps with the Mayor, Councillor Sally Holman, town clerk Mike Lewis, macebearers Derek Hallet and Stiart King and town councillors

LYME REGIS Great honour for retiring town crier

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