Bury Town Crier takes part in national competition

Date published: 28 August 2008

Bob Grundy, Bury’s World Famous Market’s town crier, was one of a throng of vociferous bell-ringers from across the country who descended upon the picturesque town of Barnoldswick for their annual crier contest.
Contestants in town crier attire rang their bells and shouted about a range of people, places and issues. The overall winner of the Best Bellman award was David Mitchell, of Chester.
The word “Oyez Oyez”, translated as “here ye” or “listen”, was familiar in towns and villages as was the ringing of the bell to gather public attention. Bob also shouted about the magnificence of Bury’s Famous Market and the abundance of goods on sale.
Town Criers go back as far as 1066, when news of events was passed from town to town. Up until the late 19th Century most people were unable to read, and so news was passed on to the people by the town crier.
Bob can be seen and heard on Bury’s World Famous Market each Saturday, up until February 2009.