Want to become a Beefeater? Tower of London is hiring Yeoman Warders
Want to become a Beefeater? Tower of London is hiring new Yeoman Warders that comes with £30k a year and your own flat – but you must have served 22 years in the armed forces first
- Tower of London is hiring two new Yeoman Warders to ‘stir the spirit’ for visitors
- Successful applicants will live in the grounds and earn up to £30,000 a year
- The Beefeaters have been guarding the Tower of London since Tudor times
Tower of London is hiring two Yeoman Warders with a £30,000 a year salary and the posts even comes with a flat.
But, there is a catch, with those hoping to become a Beefeater having to have served 22 years in the armed forces first.
Two vacancies are currently up for grabs from September with the successful applicants donning the famous uniform and their main responsibility being to ‘stir the spirit’ of every visitor to the Tower of London.
Tower of London is on the look out for two new Yeoman Warders (pictured in 2019) who in return will get a £30,000 a year salary and a flat
Yeoman Warders, nicknamed Beefeaters, have been guarding the Tower of London since Tudor times and were originally part of the Yeoman of the Guard – the monarch’s personal bodyguard who traveled with him everywhere.
The Yeoman Body of 37 men and women are all drawn from the Armed Forces.
The successful applicants will work 37 hours a week, including some weekends, overtime and some night shifts, conducting large tours around the Tower and bringing its history and stories to life.
They also contribute to the safety and security of the Tower, including guarding it at night, and will take part in ceremonial duties and parades.
Successful applicants donning the famous uniform and their main responsibility being to ‘stir the spirit’ of every visitor to the Tower of London
As part of the role, the Yeoman Wardens are also Extraordinary Members of the Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard, the Sovereign’s ceremonial bodyguards.
As well as having served at least 22 years in the armed services, applicants must hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.
Annual leave is 23 days a year, rising to 25.5 upon completion of three years of employment and 26.5 days after completing ten years’ service.
The former military personnel, who must have served for at least 22 years, conduct large tours around the Tower, bringing its history and stories to life
Yeoman Warders are expected to live within the Tower with their families and are provided with unfurnished residential accommodation.
Most apartments have two bedrooms but there are a limited number of three bedroom apartments which may become available.
The Yeoman Warders are expected to pay their own council tax and bills and there are limitations on the number of pets they are allowed – potentially having to wait for another colleague to leave the Tower before they can bring their pet in.
The oldest existing military corp and royal bodyguards: The origins of Yeoman Warders
The Yeoman Warders were formed in 1485 by the first Tudor monarch, Henry VII, after the Battle of Bosworth.
It is the oldest existing military corp and oldest of the royal bodyguards.
Henry VIII decided that the Tower should be protected by part of the royal bodyguard after he moved his official resident away in 1509.
These ‘Yeoman Warders’ were eventually granted the right to wear the splendid red uniform, which today is known as the state dress uniform and is worn on state occasions such as the monarch’s birthday.
The more durable everyday dark blue ‘undress’ uniform was introduced in the 19th century.
The state dress uniform is worn on state occasions such as the monarch’s birthday
Yeoman Warders are a detachment of the ‘Yeomen of the Guard’ and they have formed the Royal Bodyguard since at least 1509.
Their origins stretch back as far as the reign of Edward IV (1461-83)
As of 2018, there were 37 Yeoman Warders and on Chief Warder and their role is primarily ceremonial – greeting and guiding visitors.
Yeomen Warders participate in the Ceremony of the Keys each night – an ancient ritual when the main gates are locked for the night. It is one of the oldest extant military ceremonies in the world.
The first female Yeoman Warder in the history of the institution, Moira Cameraon, was hired in 2007.
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