Sacked town crier refuses to be quiet in fresh council row

Award-winning Skipton town crier Kevin Griffiths was sacked by the town council in September following “numerous complaints” about his behaviour.

He got into trouble for calling a councillor an “idiot” - which he admitted - and for drinking while in uniform, which he said was an unfair criticism.

This week Mr Griffiths was in trouble again when he began swinging his bell and shouting on the town hall steps - not far from a rival crier who had been drafted in from Nelson, Lancashire for the Yorkshire Day celebrations.

A spokesman for the town council said Mr Griffiths had attended the event without its permission but there wasn’t it could do because “there is no law to prevent anyone wearing what, in effect, is a fancy dress costume.”

He added: “It is unfortunate that Mr Griffiths took the action he did yesterday – and I hope it is something which won’t be repeated.”

Mr Griffiths, 59, a former firemen, was in a defiant mood yesterday and vowed to continue carrying out “commercial” town crier engagements in Skipton.

“I’m still town crier for Bradford and work as an independent town crier, so I am still bona fide.”

Since he was sacked he has carried out around half a dozen private town crier engagements in Skipton, he said.

Mr Griffiths remains angry at claims he drank on the job.

He says he did enjoy a few pints while in uniform but only after his work was finished.

He accused council officials of being “two-faced” as they had enjoyed drinks on official functions.

“The most I had was three pints. They made out I had a massive sessions of 10 to 12 pints. I didn’t get drunk.”