'I'm 90 now. My town crier uniform is too heavy'

One of the world's most recognisable town criers is hanging up his handbell aged 90.

Tony Appleton found himself on newspaper front pages across the globe when he turned up uninvited outside St Mary's Hospital in London, in July 2013, and bellowed news of Prince George's birth.

He has continued the tradition for George's two siblings.

"It's sad, but there comes a time in life when you've got to say, 'well that's it', otherwise you make yourself look a bit of a fool," said Appleton, from Chelmsford.

"My uniform, which I love, weighs heavier than me. And to wear that for about three or four hours, I mean, it's just mind boggling.

"I've had phone calls, [begging] 'please don't do it', but I can't do it, I've got to put my hands up in the air, my body won't do it anymore."

Born and raised in Great Baddow, close to Chelmsford, Appleton showed his affection for his village by purchasing the title of Lord of the Manor in 1992.

Before becoming a town crier, he had already met dozens of famous names in his role as a toastmaster, hosting and compering events such as banquets and weddings.

He jokingly claims to be the most photographed man in the UK, having collected 2,000 pictures of himself with familiar faces.

He is most proud of a photo capturing the moment he presented the Queen Mother with a 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar champagne bottle.

"Elizabeth Taylor, Muhammad Ali, Margaret Thatcher. You name it I've got them," he said.

Thirty years ago, a lie helped seal his first town cry gig.

"I had a phone call from somebody in Dartford in Kent and they said, 'Tony, I know you're a toastmaster', he said, 'but I've been let down. You don't know of a town crier, do you?'

"I said, 'yes, you're talking to one' and that's how I bluffed my way through it."

To any potential replacement, he joked that they would be welcome to purchase his uniform, but clarified it is "worth an absolute fortune".

Appleton addressed his final cry to BBC Essex presenter Ben Fryer: "Oyez, oyez, oyez. Tony Appleton, the town crier, has called it a day! God save the King!"

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