THE TOWER of London’s chief Beefeater – the second longest serving in history – retired on Tuesday.
after more than two decades service at Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress.
John Keohane was the longest serving Chief Yeoman Warder at The Tower of London since 1947, and the second longest serving in history having completed 20-years service.
He was the most senior member of the Sovereign’s Bodyguard based at the tower, known as the Body of Yeoman Warders and commonly called ‘Beefeaters’. 
John joined the body in 1991, shortly after leaving the Royal Corps of Signals. He began as a Yeoman Warder and was promoted to the position of Chief Yeoman Warder in 2004.
He said: “It has been a wonderful experience and I have had the pleasure of meeting a broad variety of fantastic people – from Royals, to presidents, prime ministers to actors and actresses.
“In recent years I have showed the Putins around the Tower, as well as Mrs Obama when she brought the children over.
“And in 1992, I was here for when Princess Diana first showed the Crown Jewels to William and Harry, so I have had the privilege of being part of historic events like that as well.
“The most rewarding part of the job has been meeting these people and that every day for 20-years I have been doing something different each day.
“I will miss it greatly.”
Having enlisted in the army in 1964, John served in Singapore, Oman, the Falkland Islands, Belgium, Holland and Northern Ireland.
He worked up through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class II and was awarded a host of decorations including the British Empire Medal in 1985 and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1984.
The grandfather currently lives at the tower with his wife Ruth, and they have two children, Paula and Andrew, and six grandchildren, Charlotte, Rebecca, Jonathon Nathan, Elizabeth and James.
He now plans to move to Devon to spend more time on his hobbies, which include walking, computers and Heritage Steam Railways, where every year he becomes Sir Topham Hat, the Fat Controller for Thomas the Tank Engine themed trips on the South Devon Railway. He also drives the Routemaster Bus (RM 1872) that is owned by the Railway and provides a Heritage Bus Service around Buckfastleigh.
The Chief’s deputy, Yeoman Gaoler Alan Kingshot, will be promoted to the position of Chief Yeoman Warder.
Alan joined the Body of Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London in March 1998, following a distinguished 25-year career in the Royal Hussars.
Enlisting as a Boy Soldier in 1968, he progressed through the ranks to become a Warrant Officer, instructing his squadron in tank gunnery. His military life took him to Canada, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Germany and Oman.
Nowadays, Alan lives with his wife Patricia in the heart of the Tower of London and is a keen gardener, and enjoys the occasional round of golf with colleagues.
The Chief Yeoman Warder’s daily role within the Tower is to manage the Body of Yeoman Warders, ensuring they are trained and equipped to the highest standards required by Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity responsible for the Tower of London.
He also has to oversee the duties and responsibilities of the Yeoman Gaoler and the five Yeoman Serjeants; and to liaise directly with the Resident Governor on all matters affecting the traditions and heritage of the Body of Yeoman Warders.
The Body consists of a total of 37 Yeoman Warders, who all come from a military background.
They are required to have completed a minimum of 22 years in the Armed Forces, having achieved the minimum rank of Warrant Officer, be aged between 40 and 50 years of age on taking up the appointment and be in possession of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
The ceremonial role of the Chief Yeoman Warder – known up until Victorian times as the Gentleman Porter – involves overseeing the Ceremony of the Keys, the nightly closing down ceremony of the Tower.
Every night, with an escort of four soldiers, the outer gates of the Tower are locked and secured for the night, witnessed by up to 80 members of the public who can apply for tickets to watch the event. The ceremony takes place at 10pm on each and every night of the year and has been taking place with the walls of the tower for over 700 years.
