HEAR ye, hear ye! Bermuda's own David Frith, Town Crier of St. George's, has taken home top prize at an international Town Crier competition in England.

The Armada Cup, held every year in late July, traditionally consists of two "cries" in Kingsbridge, Devon, southwest England, and then a third cry in a neigbouring town, this year Paignton.

Competitors are judged on the clarity of their voice, their diction, the consistent pitch and volume as well as their appearance. They are provided with a subject upon which to speak and are usually limited to 100 words.

The subject of the third and final cry in Paignton was "A British Vacation", which Mr. Frith edited slightly to be a "British Vacation to Bermuda", extolling the reasons why Britons should come to the island for a holiday.

Since becoming St. George's Town Crier in 2004, Mr. Frith has travelled each summer to the event, all the while keeping his eye on the prize.

"This summer was my fifth trip," said Mr. Frith (pictured) . "I've been vying for the trophy for the past five years and it has eluded me. I've placed second two (previous) times. Now the trophy has my name on it, so hopefully I can retain it next year."

Tracing the position's roots back to ancient Greece, town criers were virtual "newscasters" of the day and usually the chief means of disseminating public news. Employed by a town council, criers were typically literate individuals who were able to read announcements, proclamations, local bylaws, advertisements to the townspeople, since many townspeople could not read or write.

Notifying citizens by ringing a bell (or banging on a drum in France and Holland), criers in mediaeval England typically dressed elaborately and shouted "hear ye, hear ye" which signified attention and silence.

St. George's Mayor Mariea Caisey accompanied Mr. Frith on the trip abroad and was asked to judge the "Best Dressed" competition in Paignton. The primary reason for their trip was to attend the annual Somers Day Commemoration Parade in Lyme Regis, a town in Dorset that was the home of Sir George Somers, the English Admiral shipwrecked in Bermuda in 1609 while leading a relief fleet to the starving Jamestown colony in Virginia.

Sir George and the survivors of the Sea Venture wreck came ashore in Bermuda in what is now the parish of St. George's. Being that Lyme Regis is the twin town of St. George's, Mr. Frith is also the honorary Town Crier of Whitchurch Canonicorum, the village where Sir George Somers is buried.

Possessing the honorary title made Mr. Frith eligible to compete in the European Town Crier Championship, which was held in Holland while the pair were abroad. While Mr. Frith didn't win the overall competition, he did take top prize in the "Best Dressed" competition, which landed him on the front page of the local Dutch newspaper Almelo.

Mr. Frith's elaborate costume was made by Liz Campbell, wife of Dr. Gordon Campbell, who adorned the back of his jacket with hand-painted dragon, which is symbolic of Saint George, the patron saint of England.

While many do not know about town crier competitions, Bermuda has historically done well. St. George's former Town Crier E. Michael Jones won the Armada Cup in 2000 and St. George's Town Crier in the mid-1980s, Major D.H. (Bob) Burns, MC, holds the Guinness World Record for the loudest human speaking voice.

Mr. Frith hopes to continue his winning ways and attributes his success to Mayor Caisey.

"I was very fortunate to having with me my magnificent Mayor accompany me on the trip. She was very supportive and I am very thankful to her and the Corporation of St. George's," he said.