Jon Bartholomew

Jon started his crying career at 2am on the 18th of June 1963 when he made his entrance into the world and has never looked back! His professional career began in 1979 when he became a member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, joining the Royal Military Police at the tender age of 15.

His Town Crying life began in 1998 when he was appointed to the role in Hastings, which he held proudly and successfully for 24 years, including the great honour of hosting the longest running competition, the National Town Criers Championships, which first began in 1912. After relocating, he became the Town Crier of Bexhill on Sea in 2023 and has the great pleasure of representing the seaside town he and his family call home. Alongside his role as Town Crier, he works for Bexhill Town Council as their Operations Manager and holds the prestigious role of Sergeant of the Admiralty of the Cinque Ports, reporting directly to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, a role he is exceptionally privileged to hold. He is even a Highland Bagpiper!

During his 28-year career as Town Crier, Jon has attended numerous competitions across the world with great success, including competitions at Yeovil, Biddulph, Bognor Regis, Bromsgrove, Ooidonk in Belgium, Sidney-By-Sea in Canada, and of course Chester. Given his experience of both hosting and attending competitions of international renown, he will not only bring sound and colour to the wonderful city of Chester, but also a longstanding love and admiration of the honourable fraternity.