Must be clean, smart and sober: Oswestry seeks new town crier
An X-factor competition to find a town's first town crier in 30 year could be held in the spring.
Oswestry Town Council voted for the new post at a meeting on Wednesday as part of its move to promote the town.
Although the the role will be voluntary, the town council will provide the uniform and give a small honorarium during the first year.
However the crier will be allowed to negotiate commercial appearances as long as he or she is a public ambassador for Oswestry.
A large voice is not the only thing needed for the role.
The draft job description says: "The town crier would have to: have strong ties to Oswestry; have an outgoing personality; have reasonable knowledge of the history of Oswestry; be able to project their voice.
"You are required to be clean, smart, sober, polite and jovial."
Following the meeting, Councillor Paul Milner said a town crier would be a great asset for Oswestry.
"It is part of tradition and fits into our character as a market town."
The person taking on the role would be expected to attend all Oswestry civic events and major events in the town, such as the Food Festival in July and Christmas Live at the beginning of December.
Advertising will begin for a town crier in the next couple of weeks and the couple is expected to run a fun competition to help choose from the applicants.
