Amersham Town Crier

Mark’s specially tailored outfit is based
on a traditional 1750’s design.

Mark Jones was born in Amersham 52 years ago and has lived in and around the town all his life. He attended Chenies Primary School and completed his education at Chesham High. Mark has had an interesting and varied career which has included sales, marketing, promotions, event management, television, radio, writing, science, publishing, music, tourism, all of which reinforces his philosophy “variety is the spice of life”!

Being “blessed” with a naturally loud and clear voice and an engaging personality people often suggested he should be a town crier and he was extremely proud, privileged and honoured to be appointed Amersham’s first official Town Crier in October 2009. He views it as a “job for life” and the Town Crier is an integral part of the community and an important ambassador for the town.

OFFICIAL DUTIES:

Late night Christmas
Shopping Events:
Old Amersham
Amersham-on-the-Hill

Amersham Carnival

Heritage Day

In addition to his official Town Council duties Mark is also a Crier For Hire. Here are just a few ideas:

Don’t Chance It – Enhance It!

Maybe you are a business planning a major event, an organisation hosting a dinner, a family planning a wedding or someone with something special to celebrate – Mark Jones, Amersham’s Town Crier can enhance the experience with colour and style.
Conferences, openings, product launches, promotions - A Town Crier can act as an attraction to pull in the crowds and media giving more publicity for you.
Weddings – A Town Crier can add an extra dimension to your wedding day by providing bride and groom wake up calls, church proclamations and Master of Ceremony duties at the reception.
"Criergram" – The stylish and good taste alternative to the Strip-A-Gram. Give someone a surprise on their special day with a proclamation from the Town Crier

AMERSHAM

In 1086 The Domesday Book notes Amersham as Elmondasham with three water mills along the banks of the river Misbourne, which still flows through the town. Amersham became an important staging point for horse drawn coaches between London and the Midlands and several examples of the old coaching inns exist to this day adding extra charm to the thriving pretty market town.

Nowadays the town consists of the Old Town nestling in the valley of the Misbourne and the New Town (Amersham-on-the Hill) which grew rapidly following the arrival of the Metropolitan Railway in 1892.

THE AMERSHAM TOWN CREST

The red wyvern is from the heraldry of the Drake family of Shardeloes who have been closely connected with the history of the town. The white roundels on its wings are from the arms of the Penn family. The red and black of the chief are the liveries of the Earls and Dukes of Buckingham and the three water-wheels doubtless refer to the three water mills mentioned in the Domesday Book.

TOWN CRIERS – A few interesting bits and pieces

A town crier is a person who is employed by a town council to make public announcements in the streets. The crier can also be used in court or official announcements. Criers often dress elaborately, by a tradition dating to the 18^th Century, in a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat.

They carry a handbell to attract people’s attention, as they shout the words “Oyes, Oyez, Oyez!” before making their announcements. The word “Oyez” means “hear ye”, which is a call for silence and attention/ Oyez derives from the Anglo-Norman word for listen.

In Medieval England, town criers were the chief means of news communication with the people of the town since many could not read or write. Royal proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts, even selling loaves of sugar were all proclaimed by a bellman or crier throughout the centuries.

Town criers were protected by the ruling monarch, as they sometimes brought bad news such as tax increases. To this day, any town crier in the British Commonwealth is protected under old English law that they are not to be hindered or heckled while performing their duties. To injure or harm a town crier was seen as an act of treason against the ruling monarchy. The term “Posting A Notice” comes from the act of the town crier, who having read his message to the townspeople, would attach it to the door post of the local inn.

In Europe criers were not always men, many town criers were women. Bells were not the only attention getting device – in Holland, a gong was the instrument of choice for many, and in France a drum was used, or a hunting horn.

Modern town criers – St George’s, Bermuda town crier, Major D H “Bob” Burns, MC, the Guinness World Record holder for the loudest human speaking voice, recorded on a film set, of 113 decibels.