The Bedellus

David Boyd, the Town Crier for Rideau Lakes sends us this note:

I believe the photograph, taken by my cousin during a parade through the City of Chester, catches my enthusiasm and also caught my surprise when I first spotted my cousin in the crowd!

In every way the Chester, England, World Town Criers Tournament was a great success.

I didn’t win the title of Best Town Crier in the World, that went to my very worthy colleague, Chris Whyman of Kingston. I DID win third place in the Chester Oaks Town Crier Tournament for my creative efforts and humourous presentation. I also was awarded one of the unique terra-cotta sculptures of Chester’s Market Cross, as the “Media Award“, for extensive press coverage promoting the Chester Tournament, thus promoting the city of Chester.

I learned a lot about Town Crying and this will continue to add to my presentations. I was also invited to stand-in for the Chester Town Crier at the “Noon Cry” from the Market Cross. That was a wonderful vote of confidence from our Host Crier.

Also announced at the awards ceremony by Chris Whyman: He and Daniel Richer dit La Fleche, the Crier for City of Ottawa, are working together to put together a World Tournament that would be endorsing the UNESCO World Heritage site, Fort Henry and the Rideau Canal. I look forward to seeing how they plan. Not that I want to be a Host Crier, as Host Criers can’t compete.

So, have a grand day, and take what comfort you may in knowing that a retired public servant is out there, crying on your behalf.

Cheers … David

The annual Ontario Provincial Town Crier Championships will take place in Oshawa on Saturday, July 10, 2010. The festivities actually get underway on the Friday evening and to date seventeen Guild Criers and representatives from other Guilds will be in attendance. Crier Bill McKee, the Crier for Oshawa, the Township of Uxbridge & Port Perry-Scugog Township, is hosting this years event which takes place on the site of the Oshawa International Festival. With the criers adding to the colour and pagentry of the day, this should be an excellent three-cry competition.

The planned itinerary for the competition is:

FRIDAY JULY 9, 2010: Arrival at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College anytime after 6 pm. There will be a small reception available upon your arrival or very soon thereafter. We will have the draw order during this time. Your two written cries could be handed in then as well. The accommodations include a continental breakfast, parking and use of the internet.

SATURDAY JULY 10, 2010: Hopefully the bus will pull out at 0945 hours. Anyone driving to the site should note that parking will be limited because there is also  a ball tournament in the stadium next to the Gardens, many pipe bands and a Chinese cultural event at the Festival.

1000 hours: Judge’s briefing.

1030 hours: Cry #1 – Anything to do with International Festivals, Culture, Pipe bands or any distantly related topic. Humour is most certainly welcome. The cry will be done on the south end bridge facing north. Judges will be seated on both sides of the Oshawa Creek.

1200 hours: Opening Ceremonies at North end of Park. Criers welcome but certainly not compelled to attend.

1315 hours: Cry #2 – Anything on General Motors. Again, humour is welcome.

1430 hours: AGM of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers in the Children’s Arena board room. This arena is part of the Botanical Gardens land and is located in the Gardens parking lot on Arena St.

1600 hours: (Or sooner if the AGM is quick) Cry #3 – A cry based on the information given to you after the first cry. There will be no penalties for any historical inaccuracy and no penalties if all the ideas given are not used. The object here is humour and creativity. All other OGTC rules still apply.

1730 hours: Awards. This may be moved to the banquet hour depending on time.

1800 hours: Banquet at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #43, 471 Simcoe St. S. Oshawa. At the banquet, there will a cash bar available, and the dinner menu is beef, Caesar salad, veggies, spuds, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage.

2030 hours: Head home or bus back to car.

Other information:

Lunch on the day of the competition will be in the form of either a voucher redeemable at one of the many vendors or a cash envelope of $10.00 per person. That is to be determined.

It is a busy day yes, but everything is on site for the contest and we are all housed together and the banquet is close by. A detailed set of travel instructions has been emailed to each participant. Any questions call Crier Bill McKee at 905.982.0433 or email him at mcshout@powergate.ca. It is not too late for Criers who have not stated they are coming to sign on.

The Guild Executive wishes to thank Crier Bill McKee and his wife Liz, as well as any others who are assisting in our annual event. This promises to be another excellent day for all Criers!