Oyez! It's Hocktide in Hungerford

And this year the town’s link with the ancient past will be broadcast to the nation as an ITV film crew captured the festivities for a programme to be screened later this year, presented by comedian and broadcaster Adrian Edmonson.
The proceedings began at 8am when acting town crier Tyrell Bossom stood on the town hall balcony and summoned all the ‘commoners’ to the Hocktide court by sounding a horn.
After a hearty breakfast, this year’s Tutti men George Styles and Tim Allen began their rounds, accompanied by tutti wenches from John O’Gaunt Community Technology College’s Year 10.
The ceremony, which dates back to the 14th Century, was once observed in towns and villages throughout England but now only Hungerford still marks the ancient spring tradition each year.
The festival was traditionally the time when commoners, who were given rights by landowner John O’Gaunt in the 14th Century, paid their rent to Hungerford Town and Manor.
In times past the ‘tutti men’ would traditionally have collected the rent from each householder.
Nowadays the most they collect is a kiss from the ladies of the house, and a little hospitality to help them on their way.
The tutti men carry tutti poles – wooden staffs topped with bunches of flowers and a cloved orange.
These are thought to have derived from nosegays which were believed to protect against disease caused by noxious smells which would have emanated from some of the poorer parts of town.
In the Hocktide Court the officers were elected for the coming year and the accounts read and agreed.
This year’s festivities were particulary poignant because, for the first time in almost 55 years, veteran town crier and bellman Robin Tubb was absent.
He died, aged 74, in January, having become the country’s longest serving town crier.
Constable of the Town and Manor, Greg Furr called for a minutes’ silence in his memory before the court went on to elect Simon Lumley as port reeve and Julie Lloyd as bailiff. Mr Furr was re-elected to the post of contable for another 12 months.
Afterwards commoners of the Town and Manor enjoyed a three course meal alongside civic dignitaries including town Mayor Martin Crane followed by a speech by guest of honor the Countess of Carnavon.
After the meal the initiation ceremony known as Shoeing the Colts was held, in which all first time attendees are ‘shod’ by the blacksmith.