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'Beloved' former town crier and 'icon' dies aged 84

Maisie LillywhiteGloucestershire
News imageJack Boskett An older male town crier cries while reading from an embroidered scroll. He is wearing a traditional town crier hat and outfit as he stands in front of the entrance to a town hall. There two other ceremonial figures - a man and a woman - stood beside him.Jack Boskett
Michael Kean-Price retired as Tewkesbury's town crier due to ill health two years ago

A former town crier has been described as a "beloved icon" following his death aged 84.

Tewkesbury Town Council has paid tribute to Michael Kean-Price for showing "unwavering dedication" while serving as town crier from 1998 until his retirement in 2024.

Kean-Price told the BBC ahead of his retirement, he had dreamt of being the town crier since the age of 10, adding the only time he was "in tears" during the role was on the day the Queen Mother died in 2002.

A council spokesperson said: "Mike was a champion of Tewkesbury in every way, from leading the annual Remembrance parade to the proclamation of the new King."

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The council added Mr Kean-Price was Tewkesbury's "beloved town icon".

"Mike could often be seen around Tewkesbury on a Saturday calling out the news and announcements for the town," a council spokesperson added.

Kean-Price was inspired to become the town crier as a young boy after seeing former crier Ted Preston at work on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953.

In 2011, he received a handwritten "thank you" note from the now-Princess of Wales, following her wedding to Prince William.

Kean-Price had cried from the top of Tewkesbury Abbey's tower on the day of the couple's wedding, with a video sent directly to the newlyweds.

News imageJack Boskett An older gentleman town crier stands in front of the entrance to the town hall wearing traditional town crier clothes. He is smiling in the sunshine.Jack Boskett
Kean-Price has been remembered by a local business as "part of the fabric of Tewkesbury"

In July 2024, Rich Whincup, 44, was chosen to take on the ceremonial role and, following Kean-Price's death, described his predecessor as his "friend and mentor".

Workers at Café au Chocolat Tewkesbury, a coffee shop in the town, paid tribute to Kean-Price, adding its staff were "deeply saddened" by his death.

"Our Saturdays will never be the same without him entering the cafe and announcing, 'no need to stand, I'm not the mayor'," a coffee shop spokesperson said.

"Mike has been part of the fabric of Tewkesbury throughout our time here and has been a key part of what makes Tewkesbury such a special place."

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