Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Listen to the tale of Michael Wood!
He’s an award-winning town crier, keeping that ancient tradition of public proclamations alive. He’s traveled across England — and even to Hollywood, California — to share his unique art, as he told me during a dinner interview late last month.
But as I learned over a meal of fish and chips at a village pub in northeast England, there’s much more to Michael’s life story. From a self-described “chaotic” childhood to more than 20 years in the Army and a host of unusual jobs since, he has plenty to talk about.
In addition to being a town crier (which he still does to this day) in the East Riding of Yorkshire and elsewhere, Michael has performed as the menacing cowboy Black Bart, Mr. Sinister at the London Dungeon, Father Christmas and much more.
Click on the pictures above or on this link to read about my evening with Michael and his wife Margaret, then click here to visit Michael’s website.