A Yeoman Warder, or Beefeater, carries a lantern in 2006. A woman is to overturn over 500 years of tradition by becoming the first-ever female Beefeater at the Tower of London, the Sun newspaper reported.(AFP/Pool/File/Odd Anderson)
Posted on 01/02/2007 3:44:44 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LONDON (AFP) - A woman is to overturn over 500 years of tradition by becoming the first-ever female Beefeater at the Tower of London, a newspaper reported.
Beefeaters, a familiar sight to tourists in their red and gold uniforms, guard the tower, where the British crown jewels are kept, but also act as tour guides.
Up to now, the 35-strong group, also known as yeoman warders, has been all-male but now the authorities have broken with tradition.
"The Tower of London is in the process of appointing its first female yeoman warder," a spokeswoman for Historic Royal Palaces, which runs the tower, told the Sun newspaper.
"The successful candidate is currently serving in HM Forces and will join her new colleagues in the yeoman body at the Tower of London in summer 2007."
Beefeaters, who have to live at the tower, are former members of the armed forces who have served for a minimum of 22 years, the paper added.
Their nickname is thought to date back to the days when the yeoman warders were given a daily ration of meat.
The unnamed woman will earn 24,000 pounds (36,000 euros, 47,000 dollars) a year, the Sun said.
A Yeoman Warder, or Beefeater, carries a lantern in 2006. A woman is to overturn over 500 years of tradition by becoming the first-ever female Beefeater at the Tower of London, the Sun newspaper reported.(AFP/Pool/File/Odd Anderson)
There goes the Empire!
Goodbye England.
Watch as your Culture and Heritage slips like sand from your Fingers.
I do hope her name is not Monica (for the children, of course).
The correct title is "Yeoman Warder"...not "Beefeater".
Madonna?
Will she be packing heat, or will she just be packing sisterhood is powerful?
You know that women have all the power because they've got all the,.....
Nice costumes.
Well I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where they drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola....
And the Bodicea Breast removal for women sword wielding warrior's.
She'll get her daily...nah, too easy.
She'll carry a pike.
Does a female BEEFEATER......perform an extra services...?
Does anyone know if the story from Tom Clancy's Patriot Games was right about the guards at the Tower of London (he may have been talking about the "Beefeaters")?
From his description, they were all senior NCOs, many of whom were from the special services (SAS or Royal Marines) with exemplary records while on active duty. From his description, it sounded somewhat like our own "Tomb Detail" from the "Old Guard," as far as the honor, but of course the Old Guard is all active duty.
Mark
Thanks!
Mark
Yeah, baby.
Like all her peers in Warden Yeomanry,the female candidate is a Warrant Officer class one in the Royal Army. She is a Gunner specializing in weapons maintenance and repair. She has 22 years in service.
Did you happen to read the article?
SURELY she's not the first woman beef eater!
I had a feeling she was more than adequately qualified. Thanks!
I visited there once, they had quite the display of ancient armor and weapons.
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