New Glasgow’s Town Crier James Stewart is sharing about his hometown in England this week and already has given residents reason to be proud.
On Saturday, July 21, Stewart was awarded second place in the international town crying competition known as The Magna Carta Cup in Helmsley, England.
For the competition the town criers who come from various countries around the world had to perform two cries. The first was about their hometowns.
“It’s an opportunity to tell people about New Glasgow and encourage them to come to Nova Scotia for a visit,” he said. “I guess you could call it old school direct marketing.”
The second that Stewart did was about the Magna Carta and one of the signatories Robert DeRos who was a baron who helped create Magna Carta which is viewed as the cornerstone of freedom under law.
For his performances, Stewart was awarded second place.
But the trip isn’t over for Stewart just yet. He’ll be taking part in competitions in Salcombe on Friday July 27, Kingsbridge on July 28 and Dartmouth on July 29. These three competitions make up the Armada Cup and criers coming from Australia, Bermuda, England and Canada make up the field of 25. Stewart is the only Canadian taking part.
Stewart said what he enjoys most about competitions like this is the chance to meet people and talk to them “about New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and Canada and also
the incredible history that exists here in England.”
“My cries for the Armada Cup will be a home cry about New Glasgow, an open cry which I am doing about the Halifax Explosion and the third about Sir Francis Drake.”
