OH yea, oh yea, oh yea! Tavistock Town Crier Bob Rose was busy shouting out the congratulations proclemation for the Queen Mother's birthday last Friday.

And when Bob stopped outside quality grocers Creber in Brook Street to admire their special window display he was invited to toast the Queen Mother's birthday with champagne by managing director Vic Stacey.

'I'm a royalist — always have been and always will be. After 23 years in the army and 15 in the territorials if that doesn't qualify you to be a royalist what will?' said Bob.

Mr Stacey said his staff had specially decorated the window to celebrate the 'royal' birthday. There is tartan and a Union Jack framing a collage of photographs depicting the Queen Mother through the years.

'She loves the Highlands so we put some bottles of Scottish malt and a bottle of Royal Salute whisky into the display,' he said.

'We change the window every couple of weeks. People really appreciate it.'

Having completed his eighth 'cry' of the day and his throat now soothed by champagne Bob rang the 18th century handbell and launched into his ninth proclomation on Creber's Corner:

'It is with the greatest pleasure that I can announce that my mayor Councillor Judith Williams has conveyed on behalf of councillors and people of Tavistock birthday wishes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to celebrate her 100th birthday. A happy birthday, your majesty! God Save the Queen.'

Bob was soon surrounded by tourists eager to take a photograph of Tavistock's Town Crier in full regalia.

With his voice now a little hoarse from straining those vocal chords, Bob decided it was time to toast the Queen Mother with a pint of his favourite bitter. So it was a visit to the Tavistock Inn — known by fellow criers as the 'criers' pub' because, being open all day, medicinal refreshment is on tap when ever their throats are dry.