After winning back to back titles at the Commonwealth Championships in 1998 and 1999, St. George's Town Crier E. Michael Jones is hoping to retain the title and add several others to it this year.

Mr. Jones will join other town criers for the European Championships in Tavistock, England next week and will also compete in the Commonwealth Championships.

But first Mr. Jones will participate in the Commonwealth Open House after Baroness Scotland, the UK's Minister for Overseas Territories, asked him to.

The Bermuda National Jazz ensemble, Mayor of St. George's Lois Perinchief and officials from the Bermuda Department of Tourism in London will join him there.

This is Mr. Jones's first time in the European Championships but he is not the only local crier set to compete as he will be joined in Tavistock by Hamilton Town Crier Ed Christopher.

Mr. Jones said: "He's the one I'm concerned about beating me.

"I have been Commonwealth Champion two years straight. My hope is to win or finish in the top three,'' he said.

"I will give it my best shot,'' He added, "There are not secrets no tricks of the trade.

Should he pull off a three peat, Mr. Jones will be able to keep the trophy. He said he was not sure if that had been done before.

Another special accomplishment for Mr. Jones this year has been his naming to the post of official Town Crier of Whitchurch Canonicorum -- the former home of Bermuda's founder Sir George Somers.

In his capacity as Town Crier, he will travel around the town and then take part in the Somers Day parade on the Cobb at Lyme Regis, which is the sister town of St. George's.

"I am quite pleased to be the Town Crier of Whitchurch,'' he said.