Idwal Bellis

Military Service & Rank: 24 years military career: Royal Army Service Corps // Welsh regiment of foot guards

Yeoman at the Tower Since: 1992

Interests & Hobbies: Photography, Computers

As with his fellow Yeoman, Idwal's army career took him far and wide across the globe mainly on peaceful tours of duty however, one incident remains firmly implanted in his brain: This is what he told me "Well, it's simply that in 1982 I was with the Welsh Guards fighting in the Falklands war. Unfortunately we got sorted out by an area recognisance team of the Argentine airforce and the ship I was on went down. Of course, during war things like that are common-place but when you are in the thick of it and you realise that its your ship that's burning and sinking everything seems to take on a whole new perspective. It's an experience that I wont forget in a hurry".

Luckily for Idwal, life in the Tower of London is much more tranquil and his decision to become a Yeoman Warder has left him with no regrets whatsoever. He lives life in the Tower to the full, enjoys meeting the different nationalities of visitors and appreciates the fact that he spends so much time outdoors. Idwal also occasionally works behind the bar in the Yeoman Warders club; something which he says (with a grin) he thoroughly enjoys doing.

With many outside interests perhaps the two foremost things are Idwal's love of photography and a more recent addition being computers. Boasting a collection of more than 36 cameras (at the last count) it's plain to see that this is perhaps more than just a hobby. Idwal is now the official Tower of London photographer for the Tower environmental studies. He also is one of a growing number of Yeoman who as he puts it "dabble in computers". Upon talking with him on the subject I would say that he is much more knowledgeable than he thinks he is.