YW Barney Chandler takes on the iconic role with the ultimate responsibility... the fate of the kingdom!
It is said that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress. Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower be protected after he was warned that the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left.
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The King's order was given against the wishes of his astronomer, John Flamsteed, who complained the ravens impeded the business of his observatory in the White Tower.
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The role of Ravenmaster is relatively new, having only been created in the last 50 years, although there have been Yeoman Warders dedicated to their care for much longer. It was formally created by Yeoman Warder Jack Wilmington, who joined the Yeoman Body in 1968 and eventually became the Yeoman Quartermaster.
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When the role was later disbanded, Yeoman Warder Wilmington officially became the first Ravenmaster, with Yeoman Warder Chandler now becoming the sixth person ever to fill the position!
Barney will take over the role from YW Chris Skaife, after brilliantly caring for our ravens for 14 years.