Whitby, situated on the mouth of the river Esk and surrounded by the breath taking beauty of  the North Yorkshire Moors, has had a town crier for many years. One of the earliest was John Stephenson, or 'John the Bellman'. He was a colourful character, whose right leg was several inches shorter than his left. Once, after
being followed and teased by two youths from
Scarborough, he rang his bell and loudly announced,
"Notice! Lost! Two little boys fresh from Scarborough. If the same can be taken safely back to their mamas, a suitable reward will be given by John the Bellman."