A sexier way to convey council news to local residents?

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Permalink Reply by matt on February 1, 2009 at 0:06

A town cryer in Harringay would need to speak a few dozen languages!

Interesting facts at the end of the linked article;

— Town criers were particularly important when most of the population was illiterate. Though their origin is much older, the position was formalised after the Norman Conquest of 1066

— So important was their work that assaulting or interfering with a town crier in his duties was once a treasonable offence

— About 200 town criers are active in Britain, which leads the world in the revival of crying. Criers also work across Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia

If we can't have a Harringay cryer (noise of all that traffic) maybe we could have a Times Square style neon on the corner of a building on Green Lanes, updating everyone constantly with the latest from the HOL webpage. With Hugh's mugshot up there who knows, might start a cult! :)

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 1, 2009 at 0:16

Hmm, I think we ladies would prefer a man all dressed up 18th century style to a neon sign. And the point would be to convey council news and local rules and regs.
I'd happily pay a man to stand by the barrier in Warham Road and proclaim:

Oyez, oyez, The street is not a dumping ground for ye olde electrical appliances ye need to know that the maximum fine for dumping is 20,000 sovereigns. By order of the Master of the Guild of Waste Management, Sir Haley. God Save the Queen!

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on February 1, 2009 at 6:23

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Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

I can see other advantages to this as well. It might result in the saving (scraping) of the wasteful Haringey Pravda magazine that is thrust on the population whether they want it or not; only people interested in hearing what the council spokesman (or woman) had to say would bother to tarry awhile and there would be a natural tendency to speak only of News and of Relevant Things.

The fine art of Heckling would increase the likelihood that the Facts were stuck to! Any deviation from that, for example into Spin and Propaganda and/or the offering of smiling photographs of members of the "cabinet" "executive, would get Short Shrift.

One or two councillors could perform the job, as long as they stuck to the script; one suitable candidate, widely yet privately known as The Fish Wife, might project a Voluble Voice both Near and Far.


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