Oyez, oyez, oyez!

Applications to become Medway’s new town crier are now open.

If you are articulate, diplomatic, temperate, reliable and approachable, the council wants to hear from you.

The role includes attending events, festivals and functions and welcoming visitors from around the world.

Clear speech and a good knowledge of local history is a must.

The council is looking for someone to take on the position following the death of Rochester town crier Robin Burfoot in March, at the age of 81.

He had been a well known figure in the historic high street for 13 years.

The title of the role has now been changed to reflect that the crier will attend events at various town centres throughout Medway, not just Rochester.

Since Ancient Greek and Roman times, it has been necessary to have a trusted person with a clear, loud voice to deliver news and instructions to the population.

But it was not until the early Middle Ages that a more formal system of town criers was recognised.

It was the job of the crier or bellman to inform the public of the latest news, proclamations, by-laws and other important information, as most of the population could not read or write.

Town criers were protected by law.

Anything they did was done in the name of the monarch, therefore to harm a town crier was an act of treason.

This was a necessary safeguard as the town criers often had to announce unwelcome news such as tax increases.

Medway’s new town crier will be given a regency-style uniform, bell and scroll, and fully paid membership of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, and a £500 annual payment from Medway Council to cover expenses.

They will be required to perform a minimum of 25 ‘cries’ each year, lasting between two and four hours.

There will also be the opportunity for the successful applicant to offer their services to other organisations, at the recommended hourly or daily rate advised by the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers.

This is currently around £200-£300 a day.

Applications have to be made in writing, detailing reasons for applying for the position, to medway.matters@medway.gov.uk

The closing date is Friday, October 27.

"Oyez, oyez, oyez!" is the call or cry of the town crier.

Now usually only heard at ceremonials, fetes and local events, it would have been a common cry on the streets of medieval England. 'Oyez' (pronounced 'oh yay') comes from the French ouïr (‘to listen’) and means ‘Hear ye’.

The town crier would begin his cry with these words, accompanied by the ringing of a large hand bell to attract attention.

The cry would then end with the words, God Save the King or God Save the Queen.

Having read out his message, the town crier would then attach it to the door post of the local inn thus ‘posting a notice’.

This is the reason why newspapers are often called The Post.