You might remember him as the larger-than-life character with a voice and bell to match. Now Romford’s town crier Tony Appleton hopes to take his talents to the world stage in an ambitious bid to help open and close the London 2012 Olympics.
The 75-year-old, better known for leading festivities at Romford military parades and St George’s Day, is now gearing up for a full dress rehearsal on November 4 for the role of Games crier.
Tony, of Great Baddow in Chelmsford, has been town crier of Romford for five years in a career spanning 20 years.
He applied for the Olympic job after seeing it advertised by Games’ organisers LOCOG.
Tony, who is also president of the Guild of International Millennium Town Criers, said his biggest job had so far been the 2011 New Years Day Parade, televised to hundreds of millions worldwide.
He said opening the Olympics would be a once-in-a-lifetime job, adding: “It would be a fantastic opportunity. This is the big one.”
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