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TOWN CRIERe Peter
Moore, 65, has travelled the world
promoting Southwark. He's ridden an
elephant through the STREETS of Bombay,
appeared on the David Letterman TV show in
the US and closer to home driven a plastic
sheep across London Bridge. PAUL RHYS
bellows 'Oyez, oyeZ' as he puts him In The
Chair
WHAT made you choose
town crying as a career?
I started out as an
actor appearing in theaters and on Tv,
then 29 years ago saw an advert in The
Stage newspaper looking for someone to
encourage tourists to go to the London
Experience at the 'Trocadero in Piccadilly
Circus.
I did that for three
years before being taken on for
promotional work by the Greater London
COuncil (GLC).
Then, when the GLC was
abolished, Southwark took me on as town
crier.
What are your main
functions?
I accompany the Mayor
of Southwark on appearances, attend
charity events and school fetes. But
most-importantly I go abroad and tell
people why they should come and visit
Southwark. It's London's most historic
borough.
It's got The Globe,
Borough High Street, Borough Market.. It's
a wonderful place.
How are you received by
the public?
Very well. I have a
great love for the people of Southwark. I
get a lot of reaction from children. I was
in the Elephant & Castle and a little
boy came up to me and shouted: "Duck
Head!". He saw the feathers. on my hat and
I suppose he must have gone home to his
mum and boasted that he'd met Duck
Head
What's the best thing
about the job? |
It's a lovely job - a job
in a million. I meet kings, queens, poets
and peasants but I never get above my
station.
And every year I get
hundreds of Christmas cards. Most of them
are simply addressed "Town Crier, London"
but they still get to me.
I've also been given
the Freedom of the City of London, which
allows me to walk around with a
broadsword, be hung by a silken rope and
drive my sheep over London Bridge, which I
did when Young's brewers lent me their
mascot, Ramrod. I also once drove a
plastic sheep across the Millennium
Bridge.
And the
worst?
You're at the mercy of
the weather. I was at a charity event at
the Tower of London, stood out in the open
on a box. Just as the Princess Royal drew
up in her car, it started to pour down and
everyone ran for shelter. I stood there
not knowing what to do and got absolutely
soaked.
What characteristics do
you need?
You need a good voice
to shout "Oyez, oyez", which comes from
the French and means "listen". Town criers
used to shout it to alert villagers to the
latest edict from the monarch or
landowner, before most people could read.
I've never lost my voice I'm an actor and
know how to use it. It's not just a
question of how loud you can shout but how
audible you are.
How long will you go on
for?
People always ask if
I'm planning to retire, but I'll carry on
as long as I enjoy it It's an honor to
work for Southwark and I've always been
treated very well by everyone, from the
council to the man on the
street.
It's been an honor to
serve Southwark and shall only hang up my
bell once it stops being fun. |
