Frome Wassail & New Town Crier Choosing

Frome has a new town crier who is the community’s big cheese.
Martin Scott, also known as The Cheese Lord, won the coveted role after a loud and proud competition at the town’s annual wassail event which saw cider and toast given to the orchard to help it grow.
Martin Scott, aged 53, a cheesemonger in the town, was selected to take the prestigious role after impressing the judges with his voice and attire at Frome’s annual wassail on Saturday, February 3.
The wassail, which is back for its second year, is a traditional ceremony to bless the apple trees and ensure a good harvest. It was held at Weylands Orchard off Whatcombe Road and featured music, dancing, and mulled cider.
Mr Scott, who runs The Cheese Lord, a cheese shop and delivery service, said he was thrilled to become the town’s new crier, a position he had dreamed of for 12 years.
“It’s amazing to be the new crier,” he said. “I moved to Frome 12 years ago from Bristol, and within the few weeks when I moved, I went to see the town crier festival in Victoria Park.
“At the end of the festival, I said to my wife that I would be a town crier one day, and today is the day. I’m so excited and so thrilled to be able to represent Frome and all its communities as a town crier.”
Mr Scott wore a black and yellow outfit that he had “loosely flung together” from various things he had made or found online. He said he hoped to invest in a more proper outfit now that he was the town crier.
“My wife is cringing; this is not what she wants to do,” he said. “One of the things I had to guarantee her was that she would not need to dress up and stand beside me. She is cringing.
The dad of five added: “My son Bertie, who is eight, is thrilled; he’s so excited to see his dad up shouting in front of people; it’s great,” he said.”
Mr Scott said he looked forward to meeting people in his new role and connecting with Frome as a community.
He said: “There’s lots of things happening that I am now going to be invited to, that I may not realise are happening. It’s meeting people, shouting about Frome, getting it known in the wider context of the UK and even the world, who knows,” he said.
Mr Scott took over from Mike Bishop, who resigned after 17 and a half years as the town crier. Mr Bishop gave his last-ever cry before passing on the bell to his successor.
He shouted: “I am proud to have represented the wonderful town of Frome for 17 and a half years as your town crier. I wish my replacement all the best in their time as town crier of such a wonderful town. Choosing a new town crier could not have been at a more apt occasion as, over the years as your town crier, I have supped many a pint of the wonderful amber nectar cider.”

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