Beeafeter from Lisburn says Tower of London role a boyhood dream

YW Brown served in the Royal Irish Regiment for 10 years before transferring to the Royal Regiment of Artillery for a further 12 years of service.

He then worked a host at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in County Down.

He described his current job as a “big journey” learning “nine and a half thousand words” of the story.

“It is one of the reasons you have a six-month probation period,” he added.

He said Beefeaters were “custodians of the history and the stories of the torture” in the Tower of London.

In addition, he will be involved in the ceremonial locking up of the Tower, which has been done every night for more than 700 years.

It is a precise ceremony that takes place at 22:07.

When the clock strikes 22:00 the Royal Palace and fortress is locked with the King’s keys.

It ensures “no intruder or any cowards” can come through the gates at night.

“It is very humbling to know that the tradition has been going for over 700 years. It happened through the world wars. It’s happened through Covid,” YW Brown said.

“It is still relevant now, and it is one of the traditions that we uphold here within the Tower.”