MEDIA REPORT – 3 MAY 2022
With wit and humour our speaker at our May meeting, Brian D’Arcy, RVM, regaled us with facts, personal insights and anecdotes about’ The Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia’ and the merry and not-so-merry monarchs who wore them.
After National Service in the Cheshire Regiment Brian became a Yeoman Warder at The Tower of London in 1976. We are all familiar with their iconic red uniform. In 1982 he swapped this for more sober attire on becoming Assistant Curator, The Crown Jewels. He was pleased he no longer needed to stand outside in all weathers! In 1994 he gained promotion to Curator Crown Jewels. Brian and his wife Peggy had a happy time living in The Tower for 23 years, until he retired, with some reluctance, in April 2000. A high point of his career was being presented with The Royal Victorian Medal in The New Years Honours List of 2000 by HRH Queen Elizabeth II for his services.
Originally housed at Westminster Abbey, the Crown Jewels and ceremonial regalia, now on display at The Tower of London, mainly dates from the reign of Charles II, due to most of earlier crown treasures being stolen, melted down by various monarchs to fund wars and made into coins during the Civil War on the orders of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell as ‘symbols of the detestable rule of kings and monuments of superstition and idolatry’.
Proceeding monarchs wanted new regalia or old regalia re-fashioned to suit their tastes. Brian showed us photographs of the glittering collection which includes St Edward’s Crown used to crown monarchs since Queen Victoria; The Imperial Crown of State, worn after coronations and at Opening of Parliament sparkling with Edward the Confessor’s sapphire, the ruby presented to The Black Prince by the King of Granada and worn by kings at the battles of Agincourt and Bosworth and a portion of the famous Cullinan Diamond. Also shown were The India Crown with more than 6000 jewels including the Koh-i-Noor diamond, The Royal Sceptre and Orb, The Mace and the Great Sword of State, the Sword of Justice and The Sword of Mercy all used during coronations.
Brian can thank an enormous wine cooler made for George 1V for saving him from trouble during an unexpected inspection when he and colleagues were enjoying coffee and cakes. He was thankful that the inspector did not lift the lid of the wine cooler!
Brian stays in touch with former Jewel Tower colleagues through golf tournaments and other events and encourages us to see these treasures which he enjoyed guarding for so many years.
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
With wit and humour our speaker at our May meeting, Brian D’Arcy, RVM, regaled us with facts, personal insights and anecdotes about’ The Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia’ and the merry and not-so-merry monarchs who wore them.
After National Service in the Cheshire Regiment Brian became a Yeoman Warder at The Tower of London in 1976. We are all familiar with their iconic red uniform. In 1982 he swapped this for more sober attire on becoming Assistant Curator, The Crown Jewels. He was pleased he no longer needed to stand outside in all weathers! In 1994 he gained promotion to Curator Crown Jewels. Brian and his wife Peggy had a happy time living in The Tower for 23 years, until he retired, with some reluctance, in April 2000. A high point of his career was being presented with The Royal Victorian Medal in The New Years Honours List of 2000 by HRH Queen Elizabeth II for his services.
Originally housed at Westminster Abbey, the Crown Jewels and ceremonial regalia, now on display at The Tower of London, mainly dates from the reign of Charles II, due to most of earlier crown treasures being stolen, melted down by various monarchs to fund wars and made into coins during the Civil War on the orders of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell as ‘symbols of the detestable rule of kings and monuments of superstition and idolatry’.
Proceeding monarchs wanted new regalia or old regalia re-fashioned to suit their tastes. Brian showed us photographs of the glittering collection which includes St Edward’s Crown used to crown monarchs since Queen Victoria; The Imperial Crown of State, worn after coronations and at Opening of Parliament sparkling with Edward the Confessor’s sapphire, the ruby presented to The Black Prince by the King of Granada and worn by kings at the battles of Agincourt and Bosworth and a portion of the famous Cullinan Diamond. Also shown were The India Crown with more than 6000 jewels including the Koh-i-Noor diamond, The Royal Sceptre and Orb, The Mace and the Great Sword of State, the Sword of Justice and The Sword of Mercy all used during coronations.
Brian can thank an enormous wine cooler made for George 1V for saving him from trouble during an unexpected inspection when he and colleagues were enjoying coffee and cakes. He was thankful that the inspector did not lift the lid of the wine cooler!
Brian stays in touch with former Jewel Tower colleagues through golf tournaments and other events and encourages us to see these treasures which he enjoyed guarding for so many years.
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser