CIVIC occasions in Malvern could be enlivened by the presence of a town crier, if an idea currently being mooted by the town council comes to fruition.

The idea rose out of discussions between Malvern Town Council and Malvern Civic Society about the Civic Week, which starts tomorrow (Saturday, June 25).

The civic society has hired town crier Mike Fray to lead the opening procession and to walk up and down Church Street announcing the events of the week.

But this week, council members were discussing whether to make a more permanent arrangement for a town crier.

At Wednesday's meeting of the council's policy and resources committee, town clerk Richard Chapman told members that it should be possible to hire a town crier for a retaining fee of about £200 a year, to 'cry' at major town events such as Malvern In Bloom, the Mayor's August bank holiday event, and the Christmas lights switch-on.

At the meeting, Roger Sutton of the civic society said: "Since we arranged the town crier for Civic Week, we have had a lot of support for the idea from the various organisations taking part."

And Dr John Harcup said: "I think the idea is an excellent one. A town crier would add gravitas to occasions such as last year's anniversary at Great Malvern station."

In his initial report to members, Mr Chapman said that a set of robes for the crier would cost £1,700. But at this week's meeting he told members that robes could be hired from Malvern Theatres' costume department for as little at £10 per day.

Committee members supported the idea, and authorised Mr Chapman to investigate further.

* For more on Civic Week see this week's Malvern Gazette.