|
The Job of Town Crier can be traced
back as far as 1066, when news of
Britain's first (and last) invasion by
King William of Normandy was passed from
town to town by individuals specifically
employed to call out the King's
proclamation.
Literacy amongst the majority of the
populace was low well into the late 19th
century as books and newspapers were
generally only accessible to a small
percentage of the English population.
Proclamations, edicts, laws and news may
well of been written on paper, but they
were usually passed on to the general
public by the Town Crier - the first
(talking) newspaper.
 Oyez,
Oyez (roughly translated as "hark" or
"listen") became a familiar call in town
squares, markets and public meeting places
all over Britain, a summons for the
townspeople to gather and listen to news
of plague, victories in far off lands,
Royal births and deaths by execution.
Certainly news of the Great Fire of
London in 1666 and of Guy Fawke's
Gunpowder Plot against the English
Parliament would have been spread by
members of the Honorable and Ancient Guild
of Town Criers.
Today the tradition of the Town Crier
is kept alive and well in London by Peter
Moore, London's Official Town Crier. For
twenty five years Peter, who is a member
of the London Tourist Board, has been a
familiar and imposing site on the streets
of London, easily identifiable in his red
and gold robes, white breeches, black
boots and tricorn hat, replete with
ostrich feather plumes. And if you can't
find him, just stand within 100 yards of
the many venues which Peter appears at
weekly and you will be able to locate him
by the sound of his booming voice and
accompanying hand bell.
 The
ceremonial robes worn by Peter are hand
made by the Queen's robe maker Ede and
Ravenscroft and cost in excess of
£2,000. Even the handbells rung out
by Peter all over London have a
distinguished lineage; they are cast by
the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the company
that made America's famous Liberty Bell,
hopefully without the cracks!
In addition to his weekly duties Peter
appears at many London events through the
year issuing proclamations at festivals,
shows, parades and celebrations. Peter's
proudest moment was announcing the birth
of Prince William outside the gates of
Buckingham Palace, his proudest boast
"never losing my voice!"
|
