Moira Cameron
Yeoman Warder Cameron | |
---|---|
Yeoman Warder (a.k.a. Beefeaters) | |
Military career | |
Service | British Army |
Years of service | 1985–2007 |
Rank | Warrant Officer Class 2 |
Moira Cameron (born 1964) is a retired
Originally prison guards, the Yeoman Warder's position dates back to 1485. It is now a largely ceremonial role, with responsibility for conducting guided tours and generally looking after public visitors to the Tower, as well as conducting certain other duties both inside and outside the Tower.
Career
British Army
Cameron joined the
Yeoman Warder
Cameron officially became the first ever female Yeoman Warder in July 2007 but didn't get to wear her uniform until 3 September 2007.[2][3] Cameron was one of 37 Yeoman Warders based in the Tower of London, a position which dates back to 1485.[4][5] Styled as Yeoman Warder Cameron, her full and proper title was Yeoman Warder of His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard in the Extraordinary.[1][5]
Camerons' duties were mostly connected to the Tower, but can involve some outside ceremonies. Within the Tower, Cameron's role was to take care of public visitors to the Tower and perform guided tours, guard the
On 25 November 2009, two Yeoman Warders were dismissed after being found guilty of gross misconduct for bullying Cameron due to her gender. Three Warders had been suspended, and one was subsequently re-instated following the month-long investigation, with his role 'unproven'. One of the three also received a police caution for defacing Cameron's Wikipedia biography.[6][7]
Cameron retired in Autumn 2022[8] after having served 15 years as a Yeoman Warder.
First female Yeoman Warder
The post of Yeoman Warder had never specifically been barred to women, although due to the rules governing women in the British Army, it was only in the modern era that women were able to have a career able to meet the entry requirements.
Personal life
Born in 1964, Cameron grew up in Furnace, Argyll on the west coast of Scotland, and joined the Army at the suggestion of her mother, who thought she 'needed to see the world'.[4] As part of her job as a Yeoman Warder, she lived in the Tower of London in a subsidised apartment.[4] In February 2011, Cameron was made a patron of The Kit Wilson Trust for Animal Welfare, an animal welfare charity based in East Sussex.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Biography, Warrant Officer Class 2, Moira Cameron" (PDF). Historic Royal Palaces. n.d. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Beefeater makes history at Tower". BBC News. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ a b "First female Beefeater starts at the Tower". Reuters. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Warder with a secret weapon" (PDF). Historic Royal Palaces. n.d. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "First ever female Beefeater is appointed at the Tower of London". mod.uk - Defence News. Ministry of Defence. 11 January 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Beefeaters in harassment inquiry". BBC News. 2 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Beefeaters fired in bully probe". BBC News. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Bio". Moira Cameron. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Female Beefeater to guard Tower". BBC News. 3 January 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Female beefeater goes on parade". BBC News. 11 January 2007. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)