Ex-QDMS
Peter Southwood
Pietermaritzburg’s town crier of 21 years, Peter Southwood, believed to be the country’s only official town crier, died at his home in Hilton on Friday.
Southwood, who would have celebrated his 74th birthday yesterday, will be remembered for his elaborate outfit and the scroll he carried with him.
Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business CEO Melanie Veness described him as “quite a character” who was part of the city’s landscape.
Gail Cornhill, of Spotted Owl Events and Promotions, said Southwood had been a fixture at more events than she could remember, from morning markets to networking meetings and the openings of new stores and large corporate functions.
“Peter would be there, enthusiastically ringing his bell,” she said.
Cornhill said that town criers often dressed elaborately, according to a tradition dating to the 18th century, in a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorn hat.
“Peter attended many international town-crying events and was a great ambassador for the city,” she said.
Southwood’s granddaughter, Jodie de Bruyn, said he had been offered the role of town crier by Dick Jones, then the director of publicity in Pietermaritzburg, who believed that having a town crier would put the city on the map.
“He became a fantastic ambassador for the city and represented SA at two international town crier championships,” said De Bruyn.
An article found on Southwood’s computer and forwarded to The Mercury by De Bruyn reads: “I have ‘oyayed’ for the queen and Prince Philip, the lord mayor of London, most of the local dignitaries, and even ‘bayeded’ for the king of the Zulus himself.”
