Royal Crown Jewels

Tower guard's unfair dismissal beef

Major General Keith Cima, 60, claims he was sacked as the most senior employee of the Tower in December 2010 because he blew the whistle on harassment, private tours to see the Crown Jewels, cannabis growing and the renting of rooms to young female tourists.

He told the London Central Employment Tribunal that two Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, and a member of the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) finance team had brought to his attention a long tradition of financial malpractice at the Tower when he took on the role in 2006.

"Within weeks three whistleblowers (one member of HRP finance and two Yeoman Warders) alleged financial impropriety around the Tower Social Club, illegal raffles, selling tickets for use of the Tower and Tower Club, unauthorised access to the Crown Jewels, unauthorised receptions in the Crypt of the Chapel Royal, cannabis growing, sub-letting of accommodation to young female tourists, and that this had been going on for a long time. I regarded these 'Spanish practices' as completely unacceptable."

Major General Cima, who left the Army three years early to become governor, claims he was dismissed after he defended Moira Cameron, the first female Beefeater, who was allegedly bullied by a colleague.

He was subsequently critical of HRP's decision to make a public apology and a £60,000 ($A91,000) payout to Yeoman Warder Mark Sanders-Crook, who had been sacked in November 2009 after an inquiry by the governor.

Michael Day, 58, the chief executive of HRP, which runs five royal palaces, said that he sacked Major General Cima for a series of "inappropriate and damaging comments" he had made about colleagues and the Tower in the wake of the payout.

He alleges that the governor said that the Tower had "prostituted itself" and Mr Day had acted "behind hand" in the settlement with Mr Sanders-Crook, and acted like a "petulant child" when informed of HRP's decision in August 2010.

"Keith ... did not make eye contact and shrugged his shoulders. I knew he was upset but it was not an appropriate response for a person occupying this level of post."

Mr Day also said that the former governor had threatened to resign and claim constructive dismissal.

A few months later Major General Cima was dismissed and was offered a pounds 120,000 compromise agreement if he did not appeal against the decision.

Mr Day said: "The principal reason for my dismissing him was the fact that, faced with evidence of these inappropriate and damaging comments from colleagues and other witnesses, Keith lied to me about whether he said them, sought quite disgracefully to discredit the makers of the statements, and only retreated to amnesia, belated admissions and insincere apologies when completely cornered, and sometimes not even then.

Royal Travel Blog: The Crown Jewels of Württemberg

The King's Crown was made for King Friedrich I. probalby very soon after he became the first King of Württembergon 01.01.1806. The Crown consists of Gold, Diamonds, Pearls and Emeralds. The stones and many of the pecaes who decorate the Crown where taken from the old ducal House Jewels, also the big emeralds and the "Caroliniian Jewels" who had belonged to Duke Carl Alexander who sammled many Jewels. It's not known which Jeweler has made the Crown.  The Crown and Orb where never worn they where displayed at the Lying in States and funerals of the Kings and Queens. Soon after he became King in 1816 King Wilhelm I. let made some smaller changes at the Crown. he widow of King Friedrich I., Queen Charlotte Mathilde still lived and that the many Jewels of the late Queen Katharina was intheritd by her 2 daughters, so that there where almost no Jewels for the Consort of the reigning King. The Parure consists of the so called riche Diadem, a  daimond necklace with five hanging diamonds, 2 bracelets and  earrings. Hello and welcome to my Royal Travel and Royal events Blog. I'm Stefan, a Royal fan from South Germany. My Interest in Royal Houses and Families startet about 20 years ago and a few years ago i have started to travel to Royal Events if they are not to far away. About these and Royal Events and Places and Castles i have visited i will post Informations and pictures here. From 01. August 2010 you can find here also News about the forrmer reigning german Houses and the mediatized Houses.

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