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Alnwick's town crier has triumphed at a multi-national tournament.
John Stevens won the first competition of its kind in Edinburgh, hosted by the Scottish capital's Lord Provost on Saturday.
He competed against nine of his fellow countrymen and one from the Netherlands (René Coupé), who gave it their best shout from the Mercat Cross over the Royal Mile in the invitational tournament.
But John, 63, thought he had blown his chances.
After reading the Alnwick cry, the competitors were asked to give the Edinburgh cry, for which John had a special Northumbrian ending up his sleeve.
It went: "But what of Edwin's burgh by the Forth? Who founded this city of great worth? Why, King Edwin of Northumbria, once King of this vast land.
"Which of course, makes you all Honorary Northumbrians."
John, who has his own website at www.alnwicktowncrier.co.uk , became the Northumberland town's official crier in 1983, and became the face of Alnwick Fair. He took a break from fair duties in 1991 but returned in 2002 to announce the ducking of the wenches and lead the annual procession through the town.
After the criers were judged on best dressed, loudest, accuracy and projection, John was handed his trophy, a traditional Scottish two-handed drinking cup.
"The trophy is beautiful", he said.
"But I thought I had shot myself in both feet with the end of the Edinburgh cry. Fortunately they seemed to like it."
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