ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Biggles4221** · 12-07-2008, 14:59

Originally Posted by LEFTY478

If you do get to watch 'The ceremony of the Keys', keep an eye on the bloke who holds the big brass lamp for the duration (right arm, elbow locked, forearm parallel to the ground); at the end of the ceremony he finally get to hand the lamp back to the Warder and the guard forms up by the steps to salute as the last Post is played. Watch as lamp-boy does the salute ‘Benny Hill’ style.

Yep the Lamp does weight abit and its about as bright as a wet match.

Going off topic slightly. One of my mates was getting ready to do the challenge and was placed on his post 15 mins before the ceremony. Whilst he was waiting for the crowds he saw a brown mist moving near him, to his credit he did'nt bob and run off screaming like a little girl (like l would of), and it stayed there for about 10 minutes . He finished the ceremony and went and informed the Sarnt of the guard. Who told him to speak to the Yeomen warder. He went and spoke to them and surprisingly the ghosts are all logged in a book and have been for donkeys!

**Biggles4221** · 12-07-2008, 15:02

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I never knew about this ceremony, so I had a bit of a butcher's on t'internet and found a website that also has a couple of short vids of the geezer and escort doing their thing:

http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/keys/

And the Yeoman Warder geezer, or whatever he's called, really does have a bunch of keys. I thought the whole thing would be just symbolic, but it appears not. Interesting stuff indeed and it's been done every day since 1340. Amazing!

MsG

My bold l was informed that there have been 2 times the ceremony of the keys have been cancelled. One was because of the Blitz and the other because the Rupert was minging and could'nt be found.... Bet his career went far

**Bugsy** · 12-07-2008, 15:13

Originally Posted by Biggles4221

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I never knew about this ceremony, so I had a bit of a butcher's on t'internet and found a website that also has a couple of short vids of the geezer and escort doing their thing:

http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/keys/

And the Yeoman Warder geezer, or whatever he's called, really does have a bunch of keys. I thought the whole thing would be just symbolic, but it appears not. Interesting stuff indeed and it's been done every day since 1340. Amazing!

MsG

My bold l was informed that there have been 2 times the ceremony of the keys have been cancelled. One was because of the Blitz and the other because the Rupert was minging and couldn't be found.... Bet his career went far

So that means the Tower's been left open twice overnight in something like 750 years. Well, that's no good, is it? Somebody should be severely gripping these folks.

MsG

**TheKnave** · 12-07-2008, 19:17

Originally Posted by Biggles4221

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I never knew about this ceremony, so I had a bit of a butcher's on t'internet and found a website that also has a couple of short vids of the geezer and escort doing their thing:

http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/keys/

And the Yeoman Warder geezer, or whatever he's called, really does have a bunch of keys. I thought the whole thing would be just symbolic, but it appears not. Interesting stuff indeed and it's been done every day since 1340. Amazing!

MsG

My bold l was informed that there have been 2 times the ceremony of the keys have been cancelled. One was because of the Blitz and the other because the Rupert was minging and could'nt be found.... Bet his career went far

I heard that the Senior Sgt of the Guard covered for him and Keys still happened without him.

**hondo** · 12-07-2008, 20:16

There have been times when the sentry has failed to challenge the keys
The challenge is done in front of traitors gate, so think of all the people that have come in that way , on a one way ticket , and may be still there
And on your left , you will see the walk way ,between the queens house and the tower , where the white lady is some times seen

Lefty ,Lamp-boy , how are you calling ........... boy
Ravens , I'm awake your awake
And the youngest one on guard gets to helps feed the ravens in the morning

taxiiiiiiiiiii

**semper** · 13-07-2008, 08:56

thanks for the link, I would like to attend the ceremony of the keys. I didn't know where to go for them as I didn't know the public can attend the ceremony.

**Zarathustra** · 13-07-2008, 10:46

Originally Posted by hondo

There have been times when the sentry has failed to challenge the keys
The challenge is done in front of traitors gate, so think of all the people that have come in that way , on a one way ticket , and may be still there
And on your left , you will see the walk way ,between the queens house and the tower , where the white lady is some times seen

Lefty ,Lamp-boy , how are you calling ........... boy
Ravens , I'm awake your awake
And the youngest one on guard gets to helps feed the ravens in the morning

taxiiiiiiiiiii

Don't forget the junior bod on guard sometimes gets to check that traitors gate is locked. Apparently thta water gets quite cold