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Quite reasonably his claim to be the longest serving Town Crier in the world was never challenged.
His duties as Bellman for the Town was a small part of his life and of us who knew him realised it was his service to the Hungerford, his love of Inkpen where he was born and Aldbourne were paramount after his love of June and his family.
Robin set the highest standards for himself, with his skills and the importance of traditions of his ancient office. On duty he was always resplendent in his Bellman’s uniform of Morning Suit finished in hunting pink, Black Silk Top Hat laced in gold, his fob watch and gold chain and shiny black shoes. The brass buttons on his jacket he made with the town badge imprinted to complete his uniform.
The only time he may have been seen without his shiny black shoes was Beating the Bounds always in his uniform he waded the river boundaries in old shoes with trousers rolled up.
He was Keeper of the Town Clock. He told me when the clock had been converted to electrical self winding in the year 2000 that he had climbed the ladder to the clock tower at least 3500 times to wind the 3 weights up to run the clock time, chime and strike. For many years he did the repairs and even made bits for the clock that had worn out.
He was a career wood and metal worker, he built their own house in Priory Road, he was a cabinet maker and much else besides. So it was not surprising that he became a teacher after Wooldridge’s the builders his employers closed down early
In 1970 he joined Newbury College and for 25 years lectured in the crafts of wood and metal working where many hundreds of apprentices and craftsmen learned their skills.
Robin and I were Wolf Cubs during the war where he established life long friends and many are here today Brian Liddiard, Roy Fox, Tony Fox, Nicholas Brittain, Michael Trigg, John Mason, Nipper Kingston and the late Gerald Ward to name a few.
We will remember Akela Miss Smith, I think she was Jane who ran the pack. We met in Everlands Road a first floor shed which was dark and dingy and horribly cold in winter Robin went on to be a senior scout and a scouter for 30 or so years. At the same time he was a bandsman joining June’s father Arthur Martin in the Hungerford Town Band and was one of a few who could play all the instruments including the drums as and when required. Hence the significance of the band here this afternoon.
As Bellman Robin announced the day’s news by a cry around the town when required but on Tutti day he woke the Commoners to attend the Hocktide Court with a few blasts from the ancient hunting horn. For years he and his mother Jean made the nosegay of spring flowers for the Tutti Poles and presented these to the Constable who handed them to the Tutti men on the Town Hall steps with the reminder from Robin to the Constable to tell them “Now go and do your duty and God Speed”. After the court he assisted the Orangeman looking after the Tutti men while they were on duty and saw fair play while the children scrambled for pennies.
In 1967 I was duty Tuttiman with my running mate Barry Thompson. It was the last year of the big pennies so we decided to obtain a supply of mint pennies from the bank we purchased £5.00 worth so at 240 to the pound so we had a lot to get rid of during the day. This brought extra excitement and interest to the passers by but unfortunately things got a bit out of hand during the afternoon outside the Town Hall and I suddenly found I was being beaten up by a woman, she was very violent. It was Robin who waded in to save me from further attack and took me to the refuge of the Three Swans to recover.
At the Hocktide Court in 1978 after a particularly tricky sequence of court proceedings the jury appointed me Constable. Before the court had completed its business Robin passed me a note of support both as officer and friend. This has always been a small but treasured memory of Robin for me.
It was not surprising that during my term of office as Constable he organised many visits to other Court Leet around the country to share their traditions.
I particularly remember Wootton under Edge, Town Crier George Carpenter is with us today. Henley in Arden, Bromsgrove, Alcester, Town Crier the late Bill Malim was a particular friend to us here, and Guildford and Town Crier Dave Peters is here. His father was Town Crier before him.
The founding meeting of the Ancient and Honourable Order of the Guild of Town Criers was held here in the Town Hall in 1980 and Robin was elected the founding secretary.
It was great honour that the Town Criers came in numbers to both Robin’s Silver and Golden Celebrations. Robin certainly would have wanted you all here today.
That same year Robin was invited to attend the International Meeting of the Town Criers in Halifax Nova Scotia. He wrote to me as Constable requesting time off in September. Naturally I granted his request. Then just a few days later I received an invitation to join the Town Criers in Halifax this I could not refuse but I replied that on the condition that our hosts would arrange 3 meetings where we could give talks about Hungerford Hocktide Court and the traditions of the Court Leet. It turned out that Robin, Stanley Mansbridge of Shaftesbury and Dave Peter’s father from Guildford and I addressed vast audiences of several hundred in a school, college and a Club.
Robin and I on arrival in Halifax were allocated to share a room for the week in a very smart hotel. I found Robin to be a first class valet and minder. Each day He was up early cleaning shoes, pressing shirts, pressing trousers, brushing jackets mine included and giving the bell and the ancient Hunting Horn a polish.
We were first down for breakfast and ready for whatever the day’s activities.
Soon after our arrival in Halifax it was obvious that the overwhelming talk was of Separatism by the Quebecians, it was most disconcerting and unpleasant. I noticed that Robin was finding this talk quite unbearable. One morning when he woke he leaned over to me and said “we are going to a civic lunch today in a warehouse
and there are 300 people invited” What say you? We should toast the queen. “Robin said I will bring them to order if you do the toast”. I just said, let’s do it.
Halfway through the luncheon Robin climbs up on his chair resplendent as usual in his Grey Uniform and Black Top Hat and rang his bell long and hard then cried
“My Lord Mayor, my lords, ladies and gentlemen be silent for the Constable of the Town and the Manor of Hungerford who will give you a toast. Be upstanding.
Everyone stood in anticipation glasses in hand “ I shouted as best I could” I give you the loyal toast The Queen Duke of Lancaster” They all responded the Queen Duke of Lancaster and drank the toast. There were no dissenters, there were just long cheers and clapping and all the Criers rang their bells in support.
After that we heard no more about separatism or about Quebec and later their referendum failed.
Robin was a great family man and good friend to many of us and a man of so many talents and we must celebrate his life and as Robin would say at the end of a Cry “ God Save her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Duke of Lancaster.
Robert W.James
19th January 2012
See also:
- Bellmen of Hungerford, Hungerford Virtual Museum
Updated: 24.1.2012
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