Town Criers are royalists and
until this century assaulting a Town Crier was a treasonable offence. Before
television and radio it was the Town Crier that provided the news to the mass
populace, today the role is more as special interest and tourist attraction.
That face rings a bell was true, as it was the Town Crier who upheld the law
prior to Sir Robert Peel. When breaking up a fight that face did ring a bell!
Was this the reason that some public houses became known as the 'Bell'?
After a proclamation was read it was nailed onto a post in town for the
literate individuals to read, hence the term to 'Post a notice'.
With the coming of the Millenium the Loyal Company of Town Criers decided it was the time to reaffirm our Loyalty to the Crown At noon on June the 5th 1999 Mike was one of approching 50 Town Criers across the country who cried a proclamation of loyalty finishing with the traditional ending of 'God Save the Queen'. St Neots Town Mayor Councillor Christine Colbert was presented with a copy of the cry from Mike who will later attend a presentation at Buckingham Palace.
