We went on the TOL tour and had the pleasure of being guided by Bill, it was the funniest, most informative guided tour we've had. He was great with all ages and really involved everyone. Bill and all the TOL yeoman are such an asset.
Legend! My wife and I rocked up at the Tower for a visit (her 60th birthday) and Bill arrived to conduct it. He entertained and insulted us for an hour. He was extremely informative as well as hilarious. We loved it! He will be a real miss. Thanks Bill, enjoy retirement.
A sad loss to the Yeoman Warders. I sincerely hope this lovely man enjoys a long and fruitful retirement. Excellent sense of humour, great delivery & very knowledgable
@@Jeffybonbon what? I'm so sorry to hear that. I adore watching videos usually by americans of his tour that was more than just a tour. An event. An awakening of storytelling of History of Comic timing. The guy was and remains on UA-cam a Legend.
Billy is great, but I just want to put in a word for other tour guides. LONDON HAS THE BEST TOUR GUIDES. I swear, they all have history degrees and have studied acting! Hop on any tour bus and you will learn so much, be entertained, and have a great laugh.
Shame that they dont have him any more , incredible memory , eloquent and entertaining , and most of all he takes the piss out everyone , including himself . Happy Retirement
Greetings from the United States (Louisville, Kentucky). I watched this video, and Bill was a wonderfully entertaining presenter/guide. Judging by the date, he has been retired for just over 2 years, now. I hope he's enjoying his retirement. I did that same tour in 1988, and the presenter was very similar. I remember a joke he told about if a King was named King John, then the initials on his shirt would be JR, which would appeal to fans of the 'Dallas' television show. That joke was funny at the time.
That wonderful comment about William 1st building the White Tower "stupidly under the flight path of 2 airports" - reminded me of an equally splendid instance I witnessed in 1973 in Berkhamsted Castle. A small party of American visitors were being given a conducted tour and as I walked past I overheard a large American lady with a blue rinse perm hairstyle (popular in the '70's with the more mature in years lady) say - "I can't understand why they built the castle so close to the railway".... yeah well - concept of history - not. After the Battle of Hastings, William marched on London, but found the bridges held against him. Unable to cross, he turned left and marched along the south bank of the River Thames until he came to the first place at which the Thames can be forded with an army - and that's at Wallingford. That brought him and his army around the Chiltern Hills and down toward London from the Northwest. Knowing by that time that the English army from Mercia had not been present at the battle, he took the precaution of stopping where the valley narrowed at Berkhamsted between the steep hills of the Chilterns and the marshy ground and built a castle there to guard his rear. The great English magnates came to Berkhamsted and submitted to William there.
A great laugh - the man is a legend. BUT, he also tells it true! School IS important - but it isn't the be all and end all! Once you have that basic grounding, what you do later in life is what REALLY matters!
Brilliant. I've seen so many of his videos by people like yourself and enjoy so much his potted history lessons. So amusing. Love from Tottenham London Engkand. And thank you for posting.
This is the epitome of the best Army NCO's I had the pleasure of serving with - right back to basic training, they had a "gift of the gab" that made them hilarious. Pretty sure many of them used Windsor Davis as a role model. Know the Tower and its Yeoman Warders well (my better half is a professional Blue Badge Tour Guide - they where just as awed by Bill).
Been wanting to see this great man since i seen his first video cant believe he retires in days and will never get on one of his tours hopefully you still do speaking events.
Wow. Just watched this and realized I was at the Tower the day AFTER this was posted. We landed in London on June 27 and went to the Tower then next day
Amazing tour guide. I've watched a few of his videos, and was lucky enough to have his guidance when i visited the Tower myself with my family. Love this guy! He's amazing!
Served with Bill on Lichfield 1998 - 2002. Brilliant guy, very funny and very intellectual intelligent. He wrote poems, including one of me, could recite Kipling word for word. He could also annoy the WRVS women on base by sending recruits our doing compass work whilst wearing pillow cases over their heads. Meal times in the Sgt mess were fun with Bill and the others as we talked and laughed about our going on. Happy hour in the mess were even funnier. Baboon Arse 😂😂😂
I visited the Tower with a group of cousins. It was one of the hottest days recorded in London. Bill, on duty was dressed in his full regalia, heavy woollen uniform, felt hat, breaches and buckled shoes. My cousin, wearing the thinnest shirt, shorts and flip flops said to Bill “I bet you’re hot in all that uniform “. Bill, didn’t reply, instead called on all visitors, “you are all allowed ONE Stupid Question” ….looking at my hapless cousin he proclaimed “This man has just used his”…….”does anyone else have a stupid question?” …what a great, quick witted force of nature Bill is. 😂👍
These guys are a legend. But do your research in advance in order to thoroughly appreciate the nearly 1,000 year history of this place and the multitude of Kings, Queens, & Famous persons & events that took place here. Also, the Crown Jewels and other exhibits, can't be fully appreciated without reading up in advance so that you know what to look out for because there is limited time in the Crown Jewels.
What an entertaining tour guide, I thought he was going to say something offensive, which makes me a bit judgemental, but he was entertaining and informative , yay and thrice yay.
Sir Bill, please update the story of Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England. Katherine died at 'Kimbolton Castle' Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire, on 7 January 1536 and her tomb is situated in Peterborough Cathedral. On the day of Katherine’s funeral, Henry’s new Queen Anne Boleyn miscarried a baby boy.
What the Yeoman Warder fails to mention is that at the time of the construction of the wall, the Kingdom was far from stable, with many Anglo Saxons still feeling disinherited of their estates, and many Normans agitating for more. Building the wall was a sensible measure to protect the King.
"Keep the bishop away from the wine" however, in their defense, to quote padre Phillipe from the legend of Zorro: "I need at least one vice to keep in touch with sinners"
Wow. Very impressed ! He actually spoke the truth. A British white guy talking about the Crusaders and Saladin etc with respect and truth. Not what you learn from text books.
You seem to have a negative and stereotypical expectation of a group of people based on nationality, skin colour and gender. May I recommend some diversity training?
Unless you yourself is of a non white background, you yourself will know what I am on about. U seem to have missed my point completely young fellow ! By of course we may debate ......
I love how he just casually weaves in a bit of "maybe get off your high horse" towards any americans in the crowd that may be from the "christianity good, islam bad" crowd.
We went on the TOL tour and had the pleasure of being guided by Bill, it was the funniest, most informative guided tour we've had. He was great with all ages and really involved everyone. Bill and all the TOL yeoman are such an asset.
Legend! My wife and I rocked up at the Tower for a visit (her 60th birthday) and Bill arrived to conduct it. He entertained and insulted us for an hour. He was extremely informative as well as hilarious. We loved it! He will be a real miss. Thanks Bill, enjoy retirement.
His performance is a 'tour de force' of humour and oratory!
Man is a legend. After Bill retired, Mark is now the most entertaining Beefeater.
A learned comic and a character! Who but the British would turn a historical lecture into comic classics?
A great history lesson!
A sad loss to the Yeoman Warders. I sincerely hope this lovely man enjoys a long and fruitful retirement.
Excellent sense of humour, great delivery & very knowledgable
I served with Bill in the Army and he was exactly the same then a great guy.
How is he doing nowdays?
ld love to have beer and a chat with him, but will have to make do with the tour.
shame he has gone now
@@Jeffybonbon what? I'm so sorry to hear that. I adore watching videos usually by americans of his tour that was more than just a tour. An event. An awakening of storytelling of History of Comic timing. The guy was and remains on UA-cam a Legend.
My brother in laws uncle small world
Billy is great, but I just want to put in a word for other tour guides.
LONDON HAS THE BEST TOUR GUIDES. I swear, they all have history degrees and have studied acting! Hop on any tour bus and you will learn so much, be entertained, and have a great laugh.
I can't believe how well this gentleman 'works' the crowd - and how much knowledge of history he has! :-)
He’s now working for the Coast Guard and often tweeting his thoughts and humour, so he hasn’t retired that much.
He slipped into Al Murray on several occasions in this. Excellent work, that man!
Yeah I got that as well. Just missing a bar and a pint
@@kimothy1701 What's your name squire? Kim! Beautiful, British name...
Yep, definately. Good tour guide though.
This guy is not just the best tour leader in the Tower of London, he is without the doubt the best tour leader anywhere, at any time.
If I'd known that there was a tour guide as good as this, I'd have gone for a tour years ago. This man is brilliant at his job!
My best mate growing up Tom, this is his old man. Absolute legend.
Shame that they dont have him any more , incredible memory , eloquent and entertaining , and most of all he takes the piss out everyone , including himself . Happy Retirement
Greetings from the United States (Louisville, Kentucky).
I watched this video, and Bill was a wonderfully entertaining presenter/guide. Judging by the date, he has been retired for just over 2 years, now. I hope he's enjoying his retirement.
I did that same tour in 1988, and the presenter was very similar. I remember a joke he told about if a King was named King John, then the initials on his shirt would be JR, which would appeal to fans of the 'Dallas' television show. That joke was funny at the time.
JR - John Rex ( Latin for King )
That wonderful comment about William 1st building the White Tower "stupidly under the flight path of 2 airports" - reminded me of an equally splendid instance I witnessed in 1973 in Berkhamsted Castle.
A small party of American visitors were being given a conducted tour and as I walked past I overheard a large American lady with a blue rinse perm hairstyle (popular in the '70's with the more mature in years lady) say - "I can't understand why they built the castle so close to the railway".... yeah well - concept of history - not.
After the Battle of Hastings, William marched on London, but found the bridges held against him. Unable to cross, he turned left and marched along the south bank of the River Thames until he came to the first place at which the Thames can be forded with an army - and that's at Wallingford. That brought him and his army around the Chiltern Hills and down toward London from the Northwest.
Knowing by that time that the English army from Mercia had not been present at the battle, he took the precaution of stopping where the valley narrowed at Berkhamsted between the steep hills of the Chilterns and the marshy ground and built a castle there to guard his rear. The great English magnates came to Berkhamsted and submitted to William there.
Bill Callaghan, Former Royal Army Medical Corps soldier and a bloody good bloke.
Love to listen to Bill, wish my history teacher was like him!
oh man I would have loved this man in history class
Best thing I've seen on UA-cam in months!
Those who have suffered this Gentleman are indeed BLESSED! Lovely work, William.
A great laugh - the man is a legend. BUT, he also tells it true! School IS important - but it isn't the be all and end all! Once you have that basic grounding, what you do later in life is what REALLY matters!
What an absolute legend! 👍
Brilliant, no other word.
This guy is a really good tour guide
Every young person there must always remember this tour. To them the details of history are attainable. Good job.
Brilliant. I've seen so many of his videos by people like yourself and enjoy so much his potted history lessons. So amusing. Love from Tottenham London Engkand. And thank you for posting.
Immensely interesting. After all that building I would have called William, William the Concreter.
This is the epitome of the best Army NCO's I had the pleasure of serving with - right back to basic training, they had a "gift of the gab" that made them hilarious. Pretty sure many of them used Windsor Davis as a role model. Know the Tower and its Yeoman Warders well (my better half is a professional Blue Badge Tour Guide - they where just as awed by Bill).
Been wanting to see this great man since i seen his first video cant believe he retires in days and will never get on one of his tours hopefully you still do speaking events.
His great .. sense of humour love it 😂
@Aussie Pom maximum retirement age is 70.
@Aussie Pom it's not about the money.
@@crabfat1494 No it's not, idiot. I'm over 70 and still working. Why spout garbage that can easily be disproved?
@@godimsofuckingbored Work at the Tower do you., because it is there.....in fact it's 65.....idiot.
Would make a good after dinner speaker. Just found out that is what he did (Billy Beafeater) in the search.
without doubt the best storyteller ever.also a great man.wish him all the best for the future.
You won't get a history lesson like this in any school.
Wow. Just watched this and realized I was at the Tower the day AFTER this was posted. We landed in London on June 27 and went to the Tower then next day
Amazing tour guide. I've watched a few of his videos, and was lucky enough to have his guidance when i visited the Tower myself with my family. Love this guy! He's amazing!
Brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to this.
Oh no just read he's retired damit, I was going to look out for him to go on his tour. He's fun to watch!
What an incredible tour guide - interesting & informative!
Served with Bill on Lichfield 1998 - 2002. Brilliant guy, very funny and very intellectual intelligent. He wrote poems, including one of me, could recite Kipling word for word. He could also annoy the WRVS women on base by sending recruits our doing compass work whilst wearing pillow cases over their heads. Meal times in the Sgt mess were fun with Bill and the others as we talked and laughed about our going on. Happy hour in the mess were even funnier. Baboon Arse 😂😂😂
Thank you for posting this, it was great fun to watch! 😀
Wow blows me away, what a great character....
Absolutely brilliant, better than the stand up comedians .👍👍
Thus proving “Until you seen the tower of London with Billy, you’ve never seen it at all”
Funny when he said,
"Who'd build a castle under 2 London Flight Paths?"
Greatly enjoyed his humour.
This guy is BRILLIANT - would have made a great teacher / lecturer, it would never be boring…….
I can never get enough of these Brits xD
I wish this guy was minister of education, or PM, or at least in charge of something very important in government.
Brilliant.....11/10.
I visited the Tower with a group of cousins. It was one of the hottest days recorded in London. Bill, on duty was dressed in his full regalia, heavy woollen uniform, felt hat, breaches and buckled shoes. My cousin, wearing the thinnest shirt, shorts and flip flops said to Bill “I bet you’re hot in all that uniform “. Bill, didn’t reply, instead called on all visitors, “you are all allowed ONE Stupid Question” ….looking at my hapless cousin he proclaimed “This man has just used his”…….”does anyone else have a stupid question?” …what a great, quick witted force of nature Bill is. 😂👍
Not only did he do Donald Trump but he also did Al Murray a British comedian! What a great guide!
Looks like he was doing a bit of Al Murray as well.
Found it...
He's a great Yeoman, very comical.
These guys are a legend. But do your research in advance in order to thoroughly appreciate the nearly 1,000 year history of this place and the multitude of Kings, Queens, & Famous persons & events that took place here.
Also, the Crown Jewels and other exhibits, can't be fully appreciated without reading up in advance so that you know what to look out for because there is limited time in the Crown Jewels.
what a fascinating guy, great tour guide
That was a very well spent half hour. I thought I knew a few facts about the history eras Bill mentioned, but obviously not!
This is the best most informative thing ive seen on youtube.
He's the best tour guid ever.. seen him many a time ....Hu shure mies history with a humour that many don't have, but should.
7-52: So polite. In earlier times I reckon something like 'That man THERE!' would have been his exclamation! LOL
Shame he has retired he would have been worth travelling down to for him.
Anyone else thinking of Al Murray...?
What gets our economy on track , and closes borders ? Top man
"Anyone not been offended yet, let me know and I'll fit you in"
FB gets offended every second with their stupid Rules & Regulations, whatever you do, don't mention the word ass, you'll be sorry
@jamie waters me
What an absolute Star! 😊
I hope the guides are just as much fun today
Thank you for recording this fella. He puts on a great tour.
What a fantastic guide.
Glad you think so!
What a great message !
What an entertaining tour guide, I thought he was going to say something offensive, which makes me a bit judgemental, but he was entertaining and informative , yay and thrice yay.
Brilliant work.
best of what it is to be british love u billy
Truly a top bloke!!
A Brilliant Gentleman
Simply brilliant!
This guy is excellent.
Great vid 👍🏽
Chandy Castle thank you 😊
Please share it.
I could quite easily listen to him for hours. Has he really retired?
What a top bloke
What a fantastic guy
Vraiment excellent ! ! !
Well done, that man!
Could you imagine a history show with him and Al Murray
Sir Bill, please update the story of Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England.
Katherine died at 'Kimbolton Castle' Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire,
on 7 January 1536 and her tomb is situated in Peterborough Cathedral.
On the day of Katherine’s funeral, Henry’s new Queen Anne Boleyn miscarried a baby boy.
Thank God I still have the right to change the channel when someone exercises the right to free speech.
Fantastic tour Bill, enjoy your retirement.
Haven't seen him for some years. Still as funny and as engaging. Been stuffing the pies a bit though!
The Beer more likely - bless him! :-)
@@georgebuller1914 no the wine! 😂😂😂
@@tamielizabethallaway2413 NAH! The French Bishops drank that years ago! ;-)
Brilliant! Good man
Brilliant
senior NCO you cant get better
What the Yeoman Warder fails to mention is that at the time of the construction of the wall, the Kingdom was far from stable, with many Anglo Saxons still feeling disinherited of their estates, and many Normans agitating for more.
Building the wall was a sensible measure to protect the King.
History teaches us that humans learn nothing!
Brilliant!
Is he Al Murry's Dad.
Couldn't remember his name.. thank you!!
This fellow MUST write a book before 'time' catches up with him!...
Good look bill
"Keep the bishop away from the wine" however, in their defense, to quote padre Phillipe from the legend of Zorro: "I need at least one vice to keep in touch with sinners"
Sad loss to the Tower when he leaves.
Well said old chap!
Wow. Very impressed ! He actually spoke the truth. A British white guy talking about the Crusaders and Saladin etc with respect and truth. Not what you learn from text books.
You seem to have a negative and stereotypical expectation of a group of people based on nationality, skin colour and gender. May I recommend some diversity training?
@@atadata6870 what on Earth are you blathering on about??? Did you even read what I wrote !!? 🤦🏽♂️
@@MAAZAD Ok, I see this goes deeper, no worries, I suggest you also get some cognitive bias training aswell.
@@atadata6870 yes, why thank you for your medical advice which I may take up.
In the mean time. What are you still blathering on about ?
Unless you yourself is of a non white background, you yourself will know what I am on about. U seem to have missed my point completely young fellow !
By of course we may debate ......
Reminds me of al Murray. Brilliant
I think Al Murray got his repertoire from Bill!
During my father’s time at the Tower of London 1967-1993, it was frowned on to parody a living President or countries Leader.
Pity Trump was not on the tour, would have been a great chance to lock the crook away for a few years!!!
I love how he just casually weaves in a bit of "maybe get off your high horse" towards any americans in the crowd that may be from the "christianity good, islam bad" crowd.
Yeah, they might do something rash like self-imposed massive economic sanctions on themselves because the don't want anymore Muslims in their country