Hornblowers wanted in Ripon for 1,000-year-old job
Applications have just closed to find someone to fill the 1,000-year role of hornblower for the Yorkshire city of Ripon (pictured).
The Guardian reports the mayor encouraged women to apply to become the first female in the job in living memory.
A hornblower has performed a nightly ritual in Ripon’s market square for more than 1,000 years, wearing an historic uniform and blowing the instrument four times as the clock strikes nine.
The lucky candidate for the part-time role, which commands a salary of £8.72 per hour plus £21.12 for every civic event or ceremony attended, will join two other hornblowers to ensure the ritual is carried out every night of the year.
Unfortunately, the horn sounded for applications yesterday, but we’ll keep our ear to the ground and let you know if we hear about the successful candidate – no doubt they’ll be blowing their own trumpet about the job.
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