Kenny Podmore has been SidneyB次元官网网址檚 official town crier for more than 21 years and although heB次元官网网址檚 now 81 years old, his voice is still as clear and imposing as the peel of the large hand bell he sounds to draw attention to his announcements.

Not that Podmore has any problem in commanding a crowdB次元官网网址檚 attention.

His colorful period outfit, complete with top hat, white gloves, tricorn hat, and buckled shoes, grabs the attention of townsfolk with his every appearance.

B次元官网网址淚 always get a reaction,B次元官网网址� Podmore said. B次元官网网址淚 write my own proclamations and I try to inject some humour when itB次元官网网址檚 appropriate, or sometimes IB次元官网网址檒l even write it as poetry.B次元官网网址�

For those who arenB次元官网网址檛 familiar with the tradition of a town crier (moreB次元官网网址檚 the pity) hereB次元官网网址檚 a bit of background information.

Town criers were the way folks used to get their important information, back in the days before 24-hour news networks, social media, and other more familiar media. They would venture into the public square (or other gathering places) with shouts of B次元官网网址渙yez, oyez, oyez!B次元官网网址� (thatB次元官网网址檚 French for B次元官网网址渉ear yeB次元官网网址�) and make their announcements. They would then nail their proclamation to a post so that the handful of literate townsfolk could read the message again. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where the term B次元官网网址減osting a messageB次元官网网址� comes from.

And although some may claim much earlier beginnings, town criers are generally considered to have begun in Britain after the Norman invasion of 1066.

B次元官网网址淨ueen Victoria decreed that the town crier was a representative of the Crown and any attack on them was considered treason. It was literally a warning not to shoot the messenger,B次元官网网址� Podmore said.

Podmore got his start in England where he was a town crier but, when he emigrated to Canada, it took a little while for him to garner the position in Sidney.

B次元官网网址淚 entered the World Championship (for town criers) in 1997 and although I didnB次元官网网址檛 win, I met this amazing lady in Sidney at about the same time. I didnB次元官网网址檛 win that competition, but I did win a bride,B次元官网网址� Podmore said.

After that, he was invited to me the honorary town crier and when the official town crier passed away, he was installed as the official crier for the seaside community.

Since that time, Podmore has been a fixture in Sidney, announcing all manner of proclamations that range from the opening of the Summer Market to the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

His next appearance will be to proclaim the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing.

The tribute will be taking place at the war memorial at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney on June 6th at 11 a.m.

B次元官网网址淭here will be myself, two veterans and one pipers, so itB次元官网网址檚 not going to be a huge event, but itB次元官网网址檚 still an important one,B次元官网网址� said Podmore. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so blessed to be able to do this and to represent a beautiful town like Sidney. Tourists love it, and I get a lot of smiles, and, in the end, this is a tradition that is important to keep alive.B次元官网网址�

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