Ryde's first town crier for years, Steve King, making his first proclamation in the town square. Picture by Robin Crossley.
PAPA Smurf, Ryde's first town crier for many years, has delivered his first proclamations for the town council.
Diminutive old soldier Steve King, who gained his affectionate nickname before he retired as steward of Ryde’s Royal British Legion Club, recently appeared in the town square and then St Thomas’s Square.
Steve put himself forward for the role as he prepared to retire from the legion club and appeared in Ryde fresh from competing in the New York Marathon.
He delivers proclamations for the council on a voluntary basis and plans to appear at other events.
The position of town crier is an ancient one and the return to Ryde comes after a gap of many, many years.
Town criers were the first talking newspapers, first delivering the news hundreds of years before the printed word.
• Steve appears in the town square at noon and St Thomas’s Square at 12.15pm Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk