July – December 2013
July started with my annual appearance at the Lord Mayor’s Street Parade in my role as Deputy City Crier alongside City Crier David Bullock. We both lead the parade and take turns to proclaim along the way. Once again the weather kept fine and there was a good turn out to take part in the festivities. 
Next up was another booking that is becoming an annual feature. I assist in welcoming and announcing proceedings at ‘Lunch on the Green’. This event is jointly organised and hosted by ‘Best of Norwich’ and Clapham & Collinge on All Saints Green. Money is raised for a local charity.
Then it was time for a couple of marquee weddings. Jemma & Adam’s was held at Peartree Cottage, Wymondham and Lucy & Chris were at the Old Queens Head, Tharston. Both were
wonderful occasions with excellent food and entertainment. Among those who contributed to the celebrations were photographer Jamie Groom together with musicians Skyliner, Xenia Horne and Scratch the Cat. Excellent food was provided by Classic Choice Catering. Jemma & Adam’s afternoon tea was courtesy of M & S.
Xenia Horne playing in the garden of Pear Tree Cottage
Out came the town crier livery again to proclaim on behalf of the Maids Head Hotel. They claim to be the oldest hostelry in the country and a proclamation was signed by the Lord Mayor of Norwich – Councillor Keith Driver; Caroline Jarrold representing ‘Visit Norwich’; and the current GM of the Maids Head hotel Christine Malcolm. Click here to see a video report of the event. http://vimeo.com/69634744
August kicked off with Rachel & Neil’s wedding at Dunston Hall, followed by Paul & Sophie at Gresham’s School and then Karen & Andrew at Elms Barn. The latter was particularly memorable as a Karen’s Scottish relatives posed a number of times for a traditional ‘fling up the kilts’ photograph. You don’t want to see the results!! Once again I had the pleasure of working with top class photographers Wendy of ‘Imagine’, Clair Bush of ‘Dragon Flies’ and James Neale. DJ’s Adam Coulton, Adam Cosie and Elevation Entertainment, got the guests on their feet and string quartet ‘Blythe’ added a touch of class to Rachel & Neil’s wedding.
Presenting the symbolic cork to Rachel & Neil
September was fairly busy with three weddings, a charity evening, two town crying bookings and six wedding shows! I had also started a part-time day job delivering flowers for a local florist and managed to fit in some evening shifts as banqueting host at the Holiday Inn Norwich North.
My beautiful weddings were with Joe & Aimee in the grandeur of St Giles House Hotel; Emma & Chris in the character filled Brome Grange Tithe Barn and finally with Alan & Debbie, back where I started the wedding season in April at Dunston Hall. This time we were in the intimate Snug Bar and Wentworth Suite. The lovely Terri Brice did the photographic honours here while old friend Lee Blanchflower took the pictures at St Giles House with Joe & Aimee. Alan & Debbie went for the self-managed Funky Diva Disco.
The charity evening at Brome Grange was a night to remember with celebrities Bob Champion
and Ron ‘chopper’ Harris in attendance. Funds were raised for the President’s Sporting Club Charity which provides equipment for disabled children. It was good to work with celebrity photographer Lisa North, top magician Sean Goodman, and comedian Mickey Pugh who hosted the auction.
Top jockey Bob Champion
The six wedding shows were at St. Andrew’s Hall, Sprowston Manor, Caistor Hall, Brome Grange, a day spent at Greenwoods store in Norwich and an evening wedding party style show at the Mercure. It was good to see old friends and meet some new ones at all the shows and we will of course be doing the rounds again starting in January. Visit my diary / events page for dates and venues. The wedding party style show at Mercure introduced me to the wonderful singing of vintage singer Cherry Morello, and also the Voxettes and the Acafellas. This was a different style of show and another is planned for 8th February 2014 at Elm Farm Country House. Click here to find out more. http://www.thebridalparty-norfolk.co.uk/
My two town crying bookings involved the re-opening of Specsavers in Great Yarmouth and the re-branding of Lloyds bank (no longer Lloyds TSB) at the Surrey Street brank in Norwich. I have copied my two cries below. Don’t forget, if you would like to raise the profile of our company on the streets of Norwich in the same way, get in touch with me.
If you can’t see clearly you’re not doing yourself any favours,
You’re first port of call should be a visit to Specsavers
Visit today before you fall flat on your face
You’ll find them in Great Yarmouth at 18 Market Place

The re-launch of Lloyds Bank is now complete
So call in at the branch here in Surrey Street
Lloyds have been around since 1765
And will look after you from the moment you arrive
With branches in the cities, the villages and towns
They’ll help you look after your pennies and pounds
I also took time in September to visit the new wedding venue at Ormesby Broad. ‘The Boathouse’ is still in the process of being built but is on schedule for opening in early 2014. I already have two bookings for this stunning picturesque venue and am looking forward to seeing it when completed.
Thankfully, October was a very quiet month with no bookings, although I still had flowers to deliver and some evenings at the Holiday Inn. There was also of course the big EDP wedding show at Dunston Hall and Dunston’s own showcase evening. Attendance at the wedding guide show at the Holiday Inn was hit by the bad weather warnings but we still made some good contacts.
I took a last minute booking in November to town cry on behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk. They needed votes to try and win a grant as part of ITV Anglia’s ‘People’s Millions’. I like to think my efforts contributed to them winning the phone in votes and receiving the grant of over £30,000.
I also started my shifts as Santa in the Castle Mall grotto and these continued into December. 
My last booking of the year was at the Zest Rooms @ Potters Leisure, Hopton on Sea. I welcomed guests and made announcements at their New Year’s Eve Ball and then, after a quick costume change into my town crier livery, I rang in the New Year at midnight.
Well that’s it for 2013. If you enjoyed it half as much as I did, then I enjoyed it twice as much as you! Happy New Year everyone.