Barry joins Beefeaters at Tower of London

FORMER ROYAL MARINE TAKES ON NEW CHALLENGE

- LORNA HUGHES

A FORMER Royal Marine who crossed the Antarctic has taken on a new challenge closer to home - at the Tower of London.

Barry Gray is making the move from his home in Yelverton to become one of the resident Beefeaters at the world-famous attraction.

Barry, a former Regimental Sergeant Major in the Royal Marines, is one of a very small number of people to have skied solo and unsupported across the Antarctic continent. He is now joining 34 other Yeoman Warders who live and work at the London landmark, alongside their families.

He served for 26 years in the Royal Marines, deployed on operational tours to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He also trained other Royal Marines in mountain and cold weather, eventually becoming the chief instructor of its specialist Mountain Leader Branch in 2007.