A party of 60 visited the Tower of London to watch the Ceremony of the Keys, the daily formal closure of the Tower, a traditional practice observed for centuries.
The Company was lucky to have yeoman warder Colin Smith MBE as guide for a short walking tour of the Tower. He also arranged access to the Yeoman Warder's Club for a buffet and drinks, a privilege for the group as visitor access is only granted by a yeoman warder personally. Throughout there was a steady flow of fascinating explanations of the history and rituals of the Tower, ranging from the gore of torture and executions to the daily working routine, and the most popular questions posed by 21st century tourists, each tale a source of (often mischievous) amusement.
The ceremony was followed with predictable military precision. Most in the party returned to the club afterwards to enjoy the hospitality and to marvel at the memorabilia collected by, and gifted to, the club over many decades.
