General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB, DSO*, OBE, DL – The Constable of the Tower of London
By the Master, Stephen Gilbert.
On Wednesday 5th October Vanessa and I were very fortunate to be included with the Immediate Past Master the Upper Warden, accompanied by the Gallant Clerk and Rachel, in an invitation to witness the swearing in of the new Constable of the Tower of London, an appointment that dates back to 1068.
The office is held for five years only and is purely ceremonial but it’s a great honour to receive as it’s a direct appointment from the Monarch.
The new Constable is Sir Gordon Messenger the first Royal Marine to be Constable; and having been to the Sir Gordon Messenger Centre at Lympstone on the 30th September it was wonderful to actually meet him in person after the ceremony.
The ceremony was full of pomp and circumstance with an honour Guard of Royal Marines in their Blues flanked by Royal Fusiliers and Honourable Artillery Company soldiers alongside the magnificent Royal Marines band and most of the Yeoman of the Tower in their very colourful and familiar full state uniforms.
The evening was spectacular with first rate music from both the band and the Royal Marines Trumpeters, matched by precision marching from all those on parade.
Yet another unique experience that Vanessa and I have been lucky to enjoy in my year, we are hopeful that we may have the pleasure of hosting Sir Gordon in our Hall at some stage in the forthcoming year.
