# Brenda Willison Named World's Loudest Woman by Guinness Town crier Brenda Willison sets new record with a powerful 105.9 decibel shout. - **Source:** [Metro UK](https://metro.co.uk) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e36999ab-ba01-4724-85a0-8797330fa792 ## Official Record Achievement Brenda Willison, a town crier based in Newmarket, Suffolk, has been officially recognized as the world’s loudest woman. On September 9, Guinness World Records verified her shout reached 105.9 decibels. This measurement is comparable to standing directly beside a running snowblower or hearing a car horn blasting at close range. ## Performance Under Conditions Despite achieving the world record, Willison believes her performance was not at its peak capacity. She noted that she was suffering from a cold during the official measurement session. This suggests that her natural vocal projection could potentially reach even higher decibel levels under optimal health conditions in future record attempts. ## Career Origins Willison’s journey as a town crier began in Peterborough after her daughter entered her into the profession without prior knowledge. Her career reached a significant milestone when she performed at Buckingham Palace for the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday. This role has defined her public presence and vocal training over many years. ## Town Crier Competitions The profession of town crying remains active through competitive tournaments. Recently, twenty-five participants competed in a five-day World Town Crier Tournament. Competitors were evaluated on three distinct cries, focusing on their home towns, a luxury lingerie shop sponsor, and their hotel accommodations, highlighting the specific performance requirements of the craft. ## British Competitive Success Christian Ashdown, a town crier from Haslemere, Surrey, recently secured third place at the world championships held in Chester. Having served in his role for 16 years, Ashdown finished behind competitors from Australia and Belgium. This achievement officially crowned him as Britain’s best town crier among the international field of participants. ## International Tournament Results The recent World Town Crier Tournament saw Kevin Howarth from Toowoomba, Australia, emerge as the overall winner. Joris Goens of Veurne, Belgium, secured the second-place position. Ashdown expressed surprise at his own ranking, noting he successfully outperformed several top-tier criers from Canada during the intense five-day event held in Cheshire. ## Historical Context Town criers historically served as the primary method for disseminating public information in local communities. While modern technology has replaced their original function, the tradition persists through these specialized competitions. These events maintain the cultural heritage of the role, emphasizing vocal clarity, projection, and the ability to command public attention. ## Cultural Significance The recognition of Willison and the success of Ashdown highlight a niche but enduring cultural practice in the United Kingdom. These records and tournaments provide a platform for practitioners to showcase traditional skills. As these individuals continue to perform, they preserve a unique form of public communication that predates modern digital media. ## Sources covering this story - https://metro.co.uk/2026/11/06/a-town-crier-called-brenda-officially-worlds-loudest-woman-29772112/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._