Rennie Chivers on becoming Colchester's new town crier

Rennie Chivers, 67, succeeds Robert Needham, who held the post for the past 27 years.

Mr Chivers, who has lived in Colchester since 1983, retired 18 months ago after working as an Essex Police officer from 1976 until 2009 before going onto work as a Fire Investigator from 2009 to last year.

Ceremony - Previous Colchester town crier Robert Needham handing Rennie Chivers a pair of solid silver shoe buckles (Image: Public) When Mr Needham hung up the bell, Mr Chivers was recommended for the role and was sworn in by mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell.

Mr Chivers spoke to The Gazette about the role after he completed his first outing as the town crier at this year’s Christmas lights switch-on in Lion Walk on Wednesday.

He said: “It was very exciting, it is a role I’ve wanted to do for many years.

"I’ve known that Bob has been securely embedded in that role, I didn’t there would be much chance of it coming into fruition.

“When I found out a couple of months ago he was planning on retiring, I spoke to him about the possibility of taking on the role.

“In all honestly, I’ve never done anything really charitable, voluntary work in my life, I feel now I’ve retired fully, I’m in a position to do things.

“I like projecting myself; I like promoting the history and heritage of Colchester and I want to promote tourism and local businesses in Colchester.”

Christmas lights switch-on - A packed night of entertainment brought festive joy to the centre of Colchester (Image: Steve Brading) Learning the role, Mr Chivers went to meet other town criers and has spent the last few months making his attire.

The jacket, waistcoat, trousers, shirt, and the leather strap for the bell is all handmade.

After appearing on stage at Wednesday evening's event, swinging the town crier bell with pride alongside Olympic boxer Lewis Richardson, Mr Chivers has set out his plans for the role.

He said: “I hope to bring it all together in the coming years and try to give Colchester a bit of a better place on the map.

“I want to help make it somewhere people have heard about and not just read about in the history books.

“Bob did it for 27 years, if I can do it as long as him, I’ll be 94 when I finish.”

Colchester’s new town crier will be opening the Christmas Fair at St Mary's Church in Wivenhoe on December 5.