Hamilton’s veteran town crier, Ed Christopher, has returned from a round of four British competitions in the unique public role with three awards, the City of Hamilton announced.

City Hall said Mr Christopher “flexed his vocal cords against 30 other town criers to win some serious silverware for Bermuda”.

He picked up Best Dressed Town Crier in the Kingsbridge Competition, third place in the Plymouth Crier Competition and was third overall in the Amada Cup Competition.

Mr Christopher said he loves the job of town crier for the City of Hamilton, which he has had for almost 30 years.

“The position has allowed me to travel, compete and meet a lot of people from all over, many of whom I have now been friends with for over a decade,” he said.

“Attending this year’s town crier competitions was like going to a family gathering. I really enjoy the camaraderie among the group; we all love to have fun and it’s a great atmosphere.”

Mr Christopher insisted on a welcome hug at the start of the competitions rather than the traditional handshake among town criers.

Jessica Astwood, director of marketing and communications for Hamilton, said: “We are so proud of Ed and happy to have him at the City of Hamilton not only as our town crier but as one of Bermuda’s greatest ambassadors.

“We know that when he travels overseas donning his pink shirt and blue vest in these competitions, he is representing Hamilton and the best of Bermuda.”

Mr Christopher has attended the competitions in Britain in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

His latest trip enabled him to represent Bermuda in the town of Lyme Regis in Dorset for its Somers Day celebrations, where he read a welcome on behalf of the Town of St George.

St George’s and Lyme Regis were formally linked in 1996. Admiral Sir George Somers, a former mayor of Lyme Regis, founded Bermuda when he was shipwrecked here on his way to Jamestown, Virginia.

Reciprocal visits have been held ever since with parties from Lyme Regis travelling to Bermuda to attend the annual Peppercorn Ceremony and members of the St George’s Twinning Association visiting Lyme Regis for Somers Day every July.

Hamilton officials said anyone wishing to see Mr Christopher in action could sign up for his free Discover Hamilton walking tours which run from April to December, Monday to Friday, leaving from City Hall at 10.30am.

Details are available on the city’s website.