From Burnley to Beefeater

A Burnley-born member of the British Army has been named the latest Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, and will live and work at the famous landmark.
Yeoman Warder, Lancastrian Amanda Clark (42).Yeoman Warder, Lancastrian Amanda Clark (42).
Yeoman Warder, Lancastrian Amanda Clark (42).

The Tower of London has welcomed its newest Yeoman Warder, Lancastrian Amanda Clark (42), who will take up the iconic role of ‘Beefeater’ at one of the UK’s most familiar landmarks after 22 years of distinguished service in the Army.

The Yeoman Warders are descended from the ancient band of warders who guarded the gates and royal prisoners early in the Tower’s history, today combining their traditional ceremonial role with a love of history to make the past come to life for visitors.

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Modern Yeoman Warders are still Extraordinary Members of the Queen’s Bodyguard, with Yeoman Warder Clark working alongside 36 other Yeoman Warders and their families.

To qualify for the role, applicants must have served at least 22 years in the armed forces, hold the Long Service and Good conduct medal, and have reached the level of Warrant Officer. YW Clark was chosen for the role after a rigorous application process.

One of her first challenges is to prepare for the Ceremony of the Keys, a closing ceremony that has taken place every night without fail for at least 700 years. She will then go on to learn word-for-word the ‘Story’ – the script of the famous Yeoman Warder Tour of the Tower, after which she will be allowed to lead a tour herself, delighting visitors with almost a thousand years of Tower history.

Before joining the Tower of London, YW Clark served with Royal Logistics Corps and completed tours in Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Canada, and the Falkland Islands.

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Yeoman Warder Clark said: “Waking up at the Tower of London is magical. Every morning I wake up and the Tower looks so peaceful. It didn’t really hit me until I put the uniform on for the first time and I realised I am now part of the history of the Tower.

"I can’t stop smiling!" she added. "I’m really looking forward to exploring more of London and all of the sites like Houses of Parliament, Covent Garden, or seeing a show in the West End.”