OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ!

Town Criers and Bellmen have been around for centuries. Carrying the news to far flung places to mainly let the illiterate know what is happening whether it be a royal birth, winning a war or whatever the authorities wanted to be known.

With the advent of newspapers and a higher level of literacy, Town criers became a thing of the past.

however, over the last few decades, local authorities around the world have embraced the concept of a Town Crier or a Bellman to be a focal figure that can be very visual and represent their town or city in many different ways. The very appearance of a Town Crier in his “flamboyant” regalia and his use of bell, bugle, Drum, or rattle attracts a crowd.

Town Criers are now prominent in the United Kingdom, U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda and many European countries.

Regional, National and International competitions are held around the world under the auspices of national guilds and have very strict rules.

Cries should be between 100 and 125 words is just one of the standards and this compilation of cries shows how difficult it can be to create a story in a few words.

This book is a collection of The Town Criers favorites from around the world.