ATalmost 500 years of service, they too are at risk of unemployment. The 37 Guards at the Tower of London, in red and gold ceremonial dress and black hats, are icons of the United Kingdom. But that will not be enough to protect them: some of them are on the point of losing their jobs, the pandemic having affected incomes of the famous monument for which they are responsible.
This is the first time that the Tower Guards have faced a loss of posts. Two of them had already experienced a dismissal in 2009, after the harassment denounced by Moira Cameron, the first woman to become guard of the Tower two years earlier.
“It’s an absolutely unprecedented situation […] They are very valuable teams, the circumstances have put us in this position. It is not a choice ”, specifies the press release published Monday, July 20 by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP, for “historic royal palaces”), the association which employs the guards.
Voluntary… or forced departures
The elimination of certain positions is part of the economic measures taken by the Tower of London because of the Covid-19 crisis. “We have taken all possible steps to secure our financial situation, but we must do more to survive in the long term. We simply have no choice but to reduce our payroll costs. “
The building, closed to the public March 20 for almost four months, in fact generated less revenue. The HRP association is self-funded and 80% of its income last year came from visitors. The coronavirus therefore carried “A devastating blow” to its treasury, notes John Barnes, its managing director. The Tower of London was only able to reopen on July 10.
HRP says it put in place a voluntary departure plan in June, which closed last week. The organization did not communicate the number of guards who came forward. If none of them shows up, he will have to consider forced departures.
“If guards were to be made redundant, we will take steps to make the transition a smooth one, and ensure that they are given the necessary notice periods.”HRP added.
The guards have yet to officially react to this announcement. In 2019, considering their retirement threatened, they had swapped their traditional outfit for yellow vests during a strike. They had not demonstrated for 55 years then.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
The guards of the Tower of London, also called Yeomen Warders and known by their nickname Beefeaters (“Beef eaters” because they could eat as much as they wanted at the king’s table, HRP argues) were initially tasked with protecting the British Crown Jewels and watching over the prisoners. Since the Tower of London has ceased to house prisoners for a long time, the role of Beefeaters has changed a lot. They alone constitute one of the attractions of the place, guiding visitors in their traditional outfits and posing on almost all the souvenir photos of this place, in which they live.
They are also responsible for feeding the ravens who live in the Tower of London. It is believed that if these crows disappear, the Crown will fall and drag the country down – so each bird has shortened wings, and “spare” crows are provided in case of desertion.
To be able to wear the famous uniform, a Beefeater must have served at least 22 years in the British armed forces
According to the official HRP website, the origins of Yeomen Warders date back to the reign of Edward IV (1461-1483). They originally belonged to Yeomen of the Guard, responsible for protecting the king, before Henry VIII decides, in the XVIe century, to assign them to the protection of the Tower of London. To be able to wear the famous uniform, a Beefeater must have served at least 22 years in the British Armed Forces, at the rank of Warrant Officer or Senior NCO. Applicants must also hold a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal if they wish to have the opportunity to live and work at the Tower of London. The building, built around 1078 by William the Conqueror, is now visited by more than three million people a year – when the Covid does not interfere.
