Village Crier
Rory Duff was appointed Crier to Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council in October 2006 after moving into the village earlier in the year.
Rory had previously been Town Crier in Alcester, and is a member of The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers.
The appointment is entirely voluntary and its purpose is to proclaim local news in a traditional manner in Barton, Marcliff, Broom and Bidford as well as 'crying' a welcome to visitors to Bidford and the surrounding communities as occasions demand.
Rory is very happy to be contacted by any voluntary, public or commercial organisation in the Bidford area to promote their events.
He normally 'cries' at Barton, Marcliff, Broom and Bidford (High Street, opposite Frog and Bullrush and Budgens) at 11.00am on Saturdays.
Enquiries: Mr Rory Duff
8 Tower Close, Bidford-on-Avon, Warks, B50 4EA.
Email: roryduff371@btinternet.com
Village Crier Update - January 2008
A Bidford Bellman or Crier!
Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! old French for 'Hear Ye'. The call made by a public crier or Court Officer (Beadle) to attract attention to a proclamation. The Beadle was also charged with bringing miscreants before the Courts as well as undertaking ceremonial duties.
However long before the relatively recent times of 1066 Heralds were used in biblical times and ancient Greece when they were required to proclaim the severing of official relationships prior to a declaration of war and to bear proposals of truce.
The 'stentorian' voice of the Greek warrior Stentor, said to equal that of fifty men, played its part in the Trojan wars.
The essential requirements to be a 'Crier' were and remain a loud voice and the capacity to read and write. Even through the 19th century news was still proclaimed to a largely illiterate population and the Crier would 'post' his or her notice by nailing it to the door post of the local inn. Hence our Postman, The Daily Post as many newspapers were initially named and more recently Post-its without which we could not remind ourselves and others of outstanding tasks!
Criers, whilst predominantly male, were also female and local councils would pay the local washer woman to announce news which more often than not was by her banging her tub with a suitable instrument to call attention to the proclamation. And which of us would have a mind to resist the local washer woman with a stentorian voice?
The system, if it can be called a system, of Town Crying was an outcome of Norman rule imposed on Saxon England. Belmen were appointed to proclaim Royal news and as such enjoyed Royal protection. It was a treasonable offence to heckle or otherwise disrupt the Belman in the discharge of his duties.
Manorial Lords were authorised to form Courts Leet & Baron as a form of local governance with reciprocal duties from the Lord of the Manor to the local population which they in turn had to repay by dues and the Lord of the Manor in turn paid his dues to the Monarch - by and large, but sometimes more 'by' than 'large' and thus our feudal history. And in all of this the Belman continued crying.
As yet I have not researched the history of Bidford's Bellman but I feel sure that I am not the first. We know that a Court Leet existed in the Manor of Bidford. The last official Ale Tasting was held in about 1832 and it is most unlikely that such a Court existed without a Crier. We know that Bidford has a Charter to hold Markets on prescribed days which would have been proclaimed. Those Markets required policing and who else than the Constable to report offences against the 'common good' and the Beadle/Belman to bring the miscreants before justice?
Is any of this relevant to our times? I believe so. In a period of such rapid development of information technology with global communication at our finger tips the ancient form of proclaiming news serves as a reminder of times past and of the freedoms which we now enjoy.
I receive a warm welcome in Marlcliff, Broom, Barton and Bidford (not least Budgens), when 'crying' on Saturdays and in the summer months frequently meet visitors who at worst regard me as quaint and at best give me a cheer.
Marlcliff often has walkers on the Avon enjoying the hamlet. Beggarly Broom invited me to open their Fayre and Barton did likewise for their Christmas Market whilst Drunken Bidford provides an excellent Tavern on which to Post my Notice.
Thank you for your support and keep giving me news to proclaim.
Village Crier Update - May 2007
BARTON: Cottage of Contents is under new management and they are doing a good job in refurbishing. I am beginning to draw a 'crowd' from their camping/caravan customers as well as weekenders from the 'statics' down the road. Local residents also appear and give me a wave!
BIDFORD: Budgens is the most productive in terms of captive audience and general response with people asking for more information. The Frog and Bulrush also draws in those passing by and now the tourist season is beginning to be underway interest is developing. War Memorial is generally the last port of call and local residents give me a cheer and/or acknowledgement.
BROOM: Is proving to be harder work. I cry outside the Village Hall and there is a limited response although one local elderly resident give support and likes the idea. Passing motorists have also stopped and said how they appreciate the tradition. Perhaps the residents of Broom could advise of an additional place I could cry which would attract a larger audience.
MARLCLIFF: Residents are very supportive. I have been asked to cry further into the hamlet from Marlcliff Green so that houses down from the Green can hear. I have twice, by chance, picked up a group of walkers/ramblers (one American) who took photos and thought how quaint it all was. This does promote interest and dialogue.