Obituary: Alan Booth, town crier

Alan Booth, who has died at 89, was Scarborough’s town crier for 31 years, a record for the Yorkshire coast, and held the titles of National and European town crier champion for several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He was also an honorary Freeman of Scarborough, in recognition of his work in raising the profile of the town.

Born in Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham, he began his working life as a lathe turner before National Service took him to Singapore.

He returned to his old job for a while before buying a guest house on Scarborough’s North Marine Road in 1968. Once installed in the resort he became involved with the local hotels association, at a time when auditions were being held for the role of town crier. He recalled that he put his name forward only to make up the numbers and once elected was embarrassed by the regalia of office, initially confining his activities to back alleyways, where he would be seen by fewer people.

Eventually, the role which he had agreed to take on just for a year, took him to Australia and Canada.

Awarded an MBE in 2005, he is survived by his daughter, Lynn, and grandson, Paul. His wife, Wendy, whom he married in 1954, died in 2006.