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From Lisburn to the Tower of London

Historic Royal Palaces Ryan Brown with a short cropped beard stands smiling at the front of the tower of London. He is wearing a ceremonial blue and red tunic and a tall blue hat. The hat is trimmed with red. A Good Conduct medal for long service is pinned on the chest of his tunic. Historic Royal Palaces
Yeoman Warder Ryan Brown said it was a childhood dream to become a Beefeater

"The journey to where I am today really did start when I was a young boy."

Ryan Brown, from Lisburn in County Antrim, was just eight years old when he dreamed of becoming a Beefeater.

After 40 years in waiting he is now living his "boyhood dream" in the Tower of London.

Yeomen Warders (YW), nicknamed Beefeaters, were introduced by Henry VII in 1485 to help guard the fortress.

Part of the criteria for becoming a Beefeater is a minimum of 22 years' service with the military.

They perform a ceremonial role as the public face of the tower, welcoming millions of visitors a year and giving guided tours in their elaborate and much-photographed uniforms.

"It is probably the hardest thing I've ever done with my military career - it is a very prestigious and honourable role," said YW Brown.

'A very responsible job'

Historic Royal Palaces Ryan Brown with a short cropped beard smiling at the front of the tower of London. He is wearing a ceremonial blue and red tunic with a belt around its waist. He is wearing a tall blue hat. The hat is trimmed with red. A Good Conduct medal for long service is pinned on the chest of his tunic which is a Yeoman Warder uniform. Historic Royal Palaces
YW Ryan Brown is the 423rd Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London

YW Brown said his first day on the job was "quite daunting and overwhelming, it is a very responsible job with a great deal of history attached".

He is the 423rd Yeoman Warder at His Majesty's Tower of London and joins 34 others who live and work in the Tower.

A Beefeater takes on 21 separate duties which include learning "the story" – the script of the famous Yeoman Warder Tour – before being allowed to lead their own tours of the Tower of London.

YW Ryan Brown Ryan Brown pictured when he was in the army he is looking into the camera with short white hair wearing a black and red military hat with an emblem in gold. He is standing in front of large military weapons. YW Ryan Brown
Ryan Brown served in the military for 22 years

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."

The tower is 'our own little paradise'

YW Brown admitted there had been a lifestyle change since he left his home in Lisburn to start his new job in central London.

"120 residents live within the walls of the Tower of London - we're quite safe and subtle in here but you still have the noises and the sounds of the city of London all around you. It is surreal but it's our own little paradise," he said.

His wife, Lesley, is set to move into the tower later, which he said was "a leap" for both of them.

He said he was still pinching himself.

"When I go to sleep, you're thinking about it and then you wake up in the morning, you draw back the curtains and you're like: 'Wow," he said.

"And then all of a sudden the ravens start and you're like: 'Yes, we're still here.'"

The tower of London