RETIREMENT usually brings the opportunity for rest, relaxation and generally living the quiet life.

But Reg Chapman will be shouting louder than ever when his career comes to an end as soon as a replacement can be found at his workplace Forest in Stanford Bridge.

Cleobury Mortimer's town crier will be facing his biggest challenge since taking up the role three years ago when he travels to Washington state in the USA for two weeks next month to compete in the town crier world championships.

Reg has had plenty of practice in spreading the word far and wide about his town, having taken part in competitions in places such as Bromyard, Bristol and Blackpool as well as Canada and Ghent in Belgium.

Born in 1936 in Norfolk, Reg was an apprentice boat builder before working in agricultural sales and intensive farming, which saw him become the director of a multi-national firm based in Fife.

He moved to Cleobury Mortimer 16 years ago when he married wife Gillian and has worked at Forest for four years . There he is responsible for timber intake and brings in 130,000 tonnes every year.

Wood is a common theme in Reg's life as he has produced most of the woodwork in Cleobury's church, marked with his special symbol of a willow tree.

"I feel we owe something to this world - I like to contribute something to the place where I live," he said.

This is an attitude that carries over into Reg's main activity - promoting Cleobury as town crier costs him in the region of £1,000 a year, despite assistance from the town's council and chamber of trade.

He said: "They wanted a town crier to promote Cleobury - they hadn't had one for 100 years, so they advertised and held a competition.

"They went for me because I knew about bells and had a loud voice! There is no training, you pick it up as you go along.

"When I first started I was amazed how few people had heard of the town - although a lot more have heard of it now," added Reg, who has two daughters and five grandchildren.

Reg's most recent accolade was Best Dressed Town Crier and Escort at a competition held in Mangotsfield near Bristol last month - an irony considering it was eight months before his £1,300 authentic-style Georgian attire was delivered when he took up the post.

He is planning to set up a town crier's museum in Cleobury's market hall, which will feature artefacts gathered from contacts from around the world and would be unique in this country.

Reg has taken part in several competitions and been judged on criteria such as volume, clarity, inflection and correctness of speech.

"You have to be a showman as well," he said. "If you are going to do the job properly and promote the town the only way to do it is to get out and about."