Historic Tower Gets Woman Power (Reuters/CNN)

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- The guardians of Britain's historic Tower of London are enlisting woman power for the first time in their 522-year history.

The Tower's Yeoman Warders, commonly known as Beefeaters -- whose ceremonial dress is a distinctive scarlet and gold tunic, white ruff, red stockings and black patent shoes -- have appointed the first female member to their ranks.

"There were six candidates -- five were male and she was the only female," spokeswoman Natasha Woollard said. "She was the best candidate for the job."

Woollard said the woman, whose name has not yet been made public, was serving in the armed forces and "will join her new colleagues in the Yeoman Body at the Tower of London in summer 2007."

The new Beefeater's full job title will be "Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary."
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more: http://us.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/03/beefeater.reut/index.html

Interesting timing -- can this be mere COINCIDENCE ?? :evilgrin: