Barrel presentation to the Tower of London

On Saturday 12^th April, a group of nearly 50 Coopers and their guests was welcomed to the Tower of London for a private ceremony to return the newly restored and decorated barrel to the Yeoman Warders’ Club – The Keys.

The barrel had been on quite a journey initially for restoration before moving again to be hand decorated ahead of its final journey to the Tower of London arriving through the East Gate and carried to enter through the Middle Drawbridge.

Following the age-old tradition, The Master knocked on the locked door to gain entry when he was asked to ‘state his business’ before being allowed inside the gates by the Duty Yeoman Warder known to many of us as Fraggle (aka YW Paul Langley) who was accompanied by YW Beefy409 (aka YW Scott Kelly). Once granted entry, the procession, led by Master Leigh Johnson and Renter Warden Helena Cooke followed by four Coopers’ members carrying the barrel including Freeman & working Cooper Euan Findlay (restorer of the barrel), and Liverymen Alan Roberts, Alistair Hutchinson and Christian Kitley led the group through the Middle Drawbridge. Steph Newington (the talented artist who had done the detailed artwork) followed with the rest of the procession behind comprising other Coopers’ members and their guests - not least a few ‘mini-Coopers’ who walked the short distance to The Keys.

The barrel was presented by The Master to Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell before it was carried and placed carefully back in the Yeoman Warders’ Club.

Particular thanks go to Freeman Euan Findlay, Steph Newington, Liveryman Alan Roberts, The Tower of London and the Clerk’s office all of whom helped make this a truly momentous and unique occasion.

A selection of photos from the evening