Dave Bryan

Military Service & Rank: 28 years in the RAF: Warrant Officer The Royal Airforce Regiment, The Queens Colour Squadron

Yeoman at the Tower Since: 1987

Interests & Hobbies: Picture framing, Engraving, The haunting of Tower Green

Born in Spalding, Lincolnshire Yeoman Warder Dave Bryan, or Big Dave the Beafeater as he is known joined the military service in 1957. From that day on his whole life changed, as he explains. As a youngster I was a bit of a rebel and during my schooldays I have to admit at not being particularly interested in any one thing. I didn't like going to school or studying and as a result I wasn't exactly the brightest spark in the universe. From day one of joining the service my life took on a completely different perspective. The first thing I did was go through the whole education system, which in the military is exceptionally good and as a result I gained all the qualifications that I needed with the added bonus of getting to travel the world.

Big Dave's life as a Yeoman Warder has been an enjoyable one, apart from the strange occurrences he has experienced at his Tower of London accommodation, number 7 Tower Green. Dave Bryan is by no means a small man, hence the nickname Big Dave the Beefeater yet despite his physical appearance he has at times been reduced to levels of fear and desperation that it's hard to contemplate, as he told us. I had never believed in ghosts and had always prided myself in being a man of logic. Since moving into my current Yeoman Warders residency I've had serious doubts about the meaning of the term, logical explanation. For instance, things are always going missing here, only to return at a later date, securely closed doors open during the night, strange sounds are often heard and a terrible feeling of dread seems to sweep through a certain part of the building. At one point I became so unnerved by it all that I had the place exorcised by our local padre but that only seemed to aggravate whatever it was and actually make things worse for a time.

Scary stuff eh! but fortunately for Dave Bryan the occurrences have now levelled off slightly and he says that he is trying hard to learn to live with his unwelcome flatmate.

The exclusive story of The Haunting of Number 7 Tower Green is exclusive to Camelot Internationals Tower of London and can be found only on this web site.