News from our partners: Town Crier Martin to ‘go directly to jail!’

News from our partners Winning Moves UK 

The world’s tallest official Town Crier will next week be launching the Shrewsbury version of the world’s most popular board game, Monopoly, it is announced today (Thursday 7 November 2019).

Shrewsbury’s beloved Town Crier Martin Wood, all 7ft 2in of him, will be performing the honours inside a cell at The Dana, Shrewsbury’s ex-prison.

The ex-prison has won the honour to host the launch of the game on Friday 15 November 2019 at 10am.

Shrewsbury Monopoly box

The Monopoly Shrewsbury Edition game will be launched at exactly the same time as the edition hits the shops. Also, Mr Monopoly is coming up from London to add more stardust to the launch ceremony. The edition itself will feature “the great and the good Shrewsbury”, say the board’s makers Winning Moves UK.

A delighted Martin Wood said:-

“I’m thrilled to have been selected to launch the new game. Shrewsbury has a wealth of history and the game will showcase all that is great about our wonderful town.”

Martin Wood was nominated to perform the honours by another Martin .. Martin Haycock, also from Shrewsbury.  Martin Haycock entered a competition organised by the game’s makers Winning Moves UK, who put out a search in June to find a Very Important Player (as well as person) to be at the launch and receive the first game to roll off the presses.

In the end Winning Moves UK today declare two winners:

• Firstly, Martin Haycock. He sent in this entry: “He’s big, he’s loud, He towers above a crowd. It’s hard to see how he could be higher, He’s Shrewsbury’s 7’2″ Town Crier!”
• Secondly, Sonia Wright, also from Shrewsbury. She jointly won because of her “overwhelming love” of Shrewsbury. She will be attending the launch along with six other members of her family and said: “I can’t wait to play the new game! Shrewsbury is the best place anywhere in the world.”

Jake Houghton, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, makers of the new Shrewsbury edition game under license from Monopoly owners Hasbro, said:-

“A very big congratulations to both winners, Sonia and Martin.

“And a very big thank you to everyone who sent in an entry, We had some the most fantastic entries and submissions – we were looking for just one winner but in the end we were so overwhelmed with great entries that there are two victors. Both were the very best of the best.”

Salopians will from next week be able to advance to the likes of the Charles Darwin Statue and the ex-prison at the throw of a dice.

At the launch a gigantic replica of the board will be rolled out. Formally launching the game will be Mr Monopoly… in handcuffs, flanked by two ‘prison officers’ from the ex-prison – a tourist magnet for the Midlands and UK.

As well as 22 multi-coloured property spaces all being handed over to leading Shrewsbury landmarks, the Community Chest and Chance cards will be heavily town-customised too.

Local figure Phil Gillam said:

“I love it when some of my favourite things come together in perfect harmony – like scones and jam and clotted cream – and now my very favourite board game, Monopoly, has come together with my favourite town Shrewsbury.

“It’s a match made in heaven! I can’t wait to play it.”

Winning Moves UK are the makers of this unique version under official license from MONOPOLY owners, Hasbro.

Four charities will get  to land on their very own spaces on the board when it is unveiled. This follows a month-long public vote earlier in the spring which attracted thousands of nominations. The quartet is: Severn Hospice, Shropshire Cat Rescue, Shrewsbury Ark, and The Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.

Chief Executive Officer of The Lingen Davies Cancer Fund Naomi Atkin said:-

“We are honoured to see Lingen Davies Cancer Fund represented in the new Shrewsbury Monopoly game. Lingen Davies has been supporting people with cancer in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid-Wales for 40 years – and it is brilliant to see the charity being recognised as such a key part of life in Shrewsbury. A big thank you to everyone who voted for us to have a space on the board. We’re all very much looking forward to playing the game over Christmas!”

The new game goes on sale from Friday 15 November 2019 at 10am at all good toy and book stores, including at Waterstones, WH Smith and The Works – and very widely online, including on Amazon.