By Melissa Coleman
Everyone knows Bob, the Southern Downs much-loved town crier, but did you know his last name?
Townsend some of you may say and you would be half right.
It’s actually Townshend.
Pronounced: Town-shend
The name Townshend has been in Bob’s family for hundreds and hundreds of years.
And adding the letter ‘H’ brings in an element of nobility to the history of Bob’s last name.
“My Grandmother, who married into the family and my sister who is slightly younger than me, still call themselves Townshend as the bulk of the family do.”
Bob said there were parliamentary nobles in his generational line – even a relative who was a famous Shakespearean actor in the last century.
“Other than that, the family has been quite quiet since then. That was until my rise to fame as a world champion town crier,” Bob said.
A few years ago, Bob attended both the national competition in Atula and the international competition held there at the same time.
Bob entered in both competitions and won world champion caller.
“The caller is the actual words of the crier,” he said.
Bob received the title in 2019 and due to the Covid-19 pandemic there has not been a competition since.
“So technically I was the world champion for two years.”
“I still cheekily claim to be a world champion,” he said.
Over the years Bob has won many illustrious awards as part of the Town Crier Guild.
Town Criers compete against one another for the titles of champion of champions, the loudest cry, and for the most extravagant outfit.
“I have competed in many annual championships and have been first on a number of occasions and best dressed several times and even the loudest competitor.”
