A Lancashire woman has made history after becoming one of the newest Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London.

Tracey Machin, from Leyland, is the first ever nurse to become a Yeoman Warder.

She joins 31 other Yeoman Warders who live and work at the Tower of London, alongside their families.

The role of Yeoman Warder, popularly known by the nickname ‘Beefeater’, descends from the band of warders who guarded the gates and royal prisoners from the Tower of London’s beginnings in the reign of William the Conqueror.

Lancashire Telegraph: Tracey Machin Tracey Machin (Image: Historic Royal Palaces)

The Yeoman Warders as they exist today were officially created by Henry VIII to guard the Tower of London, and to this day continue to hold a traditional ceremonial role as extraordinary members of The King’s bodyguard.

They also help to bring the Tower’s history alive for millions of visitors each year, leading tours, answering questions, and posing for photographs with visitors.

To qualify for the role of Yeoman Warder of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London applicants must have served at least 22 years in the armed forces, hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal, and have reached the rank of Warrant Officer or equivalent, before being selected for interview and a rigorous selection process.

Ms Machin served for 23 years in Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service, stationed all over the UK.

She left the RAF in March 2020 in order to take up a front-line position working for the Lincolnshire Community Health Service during the Covid-19 pandemic, dedicating her time to telephone triage for Urgent Care and the virtual covid wards.

She will now be swapping her rural life in a Lincolnshire village for the hustle and bustle of Central London, as she moves into her new home at the Tower with her husband and three-year-old son.

In her first few weeks settling into the role, she has found the atmosphere around the Tower to be “infectiously positive”, and says that her face “already aches in the best possible way from constant smiling”.

Over the coming months, Ms Machin will learn ‘the story’, the script of the famous Yeoman Warder tour, before being allowed to lead tours themselves.

They will also learn the 21 separate duties conducted by the Yeoman Warders each day, including the ancient ceremony of the keys, the closing ceremony that has taken place each night without fail for at least 700 years.