Town crier Brenda is officially the world's loudest woman after record-breaking shout
If you’re visiting Newmarket in Suffolk, England any time soon, you might just hear Brenda Willison (UK) before you see her.
That’s because, not only is she the world’s loudest town crier (female), she’s also the overall loudest woman on Earth.
On 9 September, Brenda yelled out her profession’s famous cry of “oyez” at an ear-splitting 105.9 dB (C-weighted) to claim the record for loudest shout by an individual (female).
For context, that would be like standing right next to a snowblower or a blasting car horn.
For those wondering, "oyez" means "hear ye" and comes from Anglo-Norman or Old French.
Brenda thinks she actually could have been even louder.
“I believe I wasn’t at my best today because I’m full of cold and I’m sure I’ll be able to get louder,” she told us.
Brenda and Adjudicator Emma Salt
These records were perhaps written in the cards for Brenda from a very young age, with even her school reports noting she had a tendency to be loud in class.
She’s been a town crier since 1987, and her origin story is an interesting one.
She explained: “We lived in Peterborough and I was catering manager at a country park which has two cafés one-and-a-half miles from one another.
“The Peterborough paper put an advert out to say ‘could you be town crier of Peterborough?’
“Unbeknown to myself, my daughter who helped out at the park sent in a letter saying that if I stood outside one café and shouted ‘chips’ they’d be able to hear me in the other.”
After taking up the job, Brenda went on to experience so many wonderful moments, becoming a part of British history.
Brenda in 1998
She went to Buckingham Palace to cry for the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday and Platinum Jubilee, has been to the Tower of London in an official capacity, and in 1995, she did a cry for peace at the bridge over the River Kwai to mark ‘50 years of peace’.
Read about more people with record-breaking abilities in our Hobbies and Skills section.
Almost 30 years on, Brenda is thrilled to be presented with two world records by GWR Adjudicator Emma Salt.
Brenda at the Queen Mother's 100th birthday celebrations
Brenda said: “I’m absolutely amazed and thrilled to have reached these records and I’m going to hang the certificates with pride in our house.”
Adjudicator Emma even had a go at town crying, borrowing Brenda’s hat and bell and giving her best “oyez oyez oyez”.
After offering to give her a quick town crier lesson, Brenda told Emma: “Actually, I don’t think you need any lessons.”
Brenda at the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations
Our girl’s a natural!
“I don’t think I’ve ever shouted that loud in my whole life,” Emma said. “I think that’s the loudest I’ve ever been.”
People often think of town criers as men, but Brenda says it’s women who are actually more suited to the role.
She said: “As a town crier, a lot of people think it’s got to be a man. No it’s not, because if you have a voice that’s clear, loud and you can pronounce things correctly, then anyone can be a town crier. You have to be able to sustain the volume, you have to be able to be clear and sometimes, some men can be really loud but you can’t understand a word they’re saying because they’re very growly, so I think ladies have an advantage because their voices are a lot more musical and much clearer.”
Maybe a new side hustle for Adjudicator Emma?
