Phil Wilson

Military service: 25 years in the Coldstream Guards

Yeoman at the Tower of London since: 1997

Interests & hobbies: Military history / History of the Tower of London/Amateur dramatics

One of the Tower's more recent additions to the Body of Yeoman Warders is Phil Wilson. He is part of a trio of Beefeaters that have come to be known as the class of 97,the other two thirds being George Brodie and Keith Hanson.

After serving twenty-five years in the Coldstream Guards, Phil spent eight years managing a clothing alteration shop in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The reason he went into the clothing trade is due to the fact that one of his rolls while serving in the Guards was as master tailor. Progressing his way through the ranks he went from guardsman to master tailor at both first and second battalions and eventually regimental headquarters.

During his time with Guards he visited many countries in the world including the troubled Northern Ireland, but there is one place in particular that will always stay in his mind,…….. Kenya.

"I was there for just six months out of my twenty-five years of military service but much of that time was spent going on safari. That has got to be one of the biggest hi-lights oh my life to date, especially the first time I went. To be able to see wild animals such as Lions, Tigers, Giraffes and other creatures that, up until then I had only seen at zoo’s or on television documentary’s really is an overwhelming experience. Now, of cause I am living through another overwhelming experience, that of the life of a Yeoman Warder in the Tower of London".

Phil Wilson lives with his wife in the Beauchamp Tower, which overlooks the western approach to the Tower of London. Apparently when he told her that he was bringing her to live in a royal palace and fortress she quickly pointed out that it was also a state prison and a place of execution. Nonetheless, after being here for the past few months both Phil and his wife say they have no regrets at all about living in and working in one of the most popular and famous tourist attractions in the world.

As with many of the other Yeoman Warders, Phil’s interest in history has greatly increased since being at the Tower of London.

"I almost can’t come to grips with the amount of English history that actually revolves around the place" says Phil. "At the moment most of my spare time is spent reading an endless array of books as part of my quest to gain knowledge for my roll as a Yeoman Warder. Mind you, my favourite pastime before coming here was acting for an amateur dramatics and operatic society called Ezna. My claim to fame was playing Captain Bracket in a production of Rogers and Hamerstein’s "South Pacific".

Who knows, once Phil has totally settled in at the Tower he may get the desire to tread the boards again? Then, maybe an authentic version of "Yeoman of the Guard" with Yeoman Warder, Phil Wilson in the staring roll could be well worth the consideration of a production company.