Sarkozy and Cameron Visit 18th June 2010
The French veterans arrived on a customized Eurostar train, and watched the ceremony in Figure Court and then had lunch with the Chelsea Pensioners in the Great Hall.
80 golfers gathered at The Berkshire Golf Club on Monday 31 May and went out in teams of four playing a 4-ball better ball format with the 2 best scores to count. A total of £30,000 was raised on the day and generous sponsorship ensured that every penny of the £200 entry fee per person went towards the Appeal. The day included a champagne breakfast with drinks and snacks on the course (sponsored by Savills) followed by a magnificent 3 course lunch. Following the lunch a Raffle and Auction took place with some marvellous golf prizes, all donated, mostly by local businesses such as Partridges, Tiffany and Marks & Spencers. A team from the Royal Hospital Chelsea also took part including 2 In-Pensioners (one aged 84) and did wonderfully well coming in the top half of the field of 80 players. General the Lord Walker presented the prizes and our grateful thanks go to The Berkshire Golf Club who gave us free use of the course and whose staff looked after us wonderfully - the Red championship course was in great shape, and the house staff provided excellent service and a delicious lunch. Special thanks also go to Carol Mason, the Royal Hospital Archivist, who organised the day so successfully.
Garden House School Raise £38,000 for the Chelsea Pensioners
Garden House School held their assembly in the chapel on the 14th June and presented the Chelsea Pensioners with a cheque for £38,306A gift from the parents association who raised the money at their quiz night held earlier in the year in the Great Hall.
A big thankyou to the Children, Parents & Staff of Garden House School from the Chelsea Pensioners.
The 318th Founder's day was held at the Royal Hospital on the 10th June 2010. This year's reviewing officer was HRH The Duke of Gloucester.
Click here to see the ITV coverage of the The Royal Hospital Chelsea Founders day.
Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas visit Guernsey for the 65th Anniversary of the Island's Liberation from German Occupation on May 9th 1945
Ten Chelsea Pensioners and nine Gurkhas from the Demonstration Company of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst have visited Guernsey to participate in the 65th Anniversary celebrations of its Liberation from five years of German Occupation on May 9th 1945. At the beginning of the visit the party met Sir Geoffrey Rowland (standing - foreground), the Bailiff of Guernsey in the States Chamber where he briefed them on the history of the island and how it was affected by the German Occupation. During their week in Guernsey the Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas also participated in a wide variety of events where they met a large number of islanders and received a very warm welcome.
From left to right: Chelsea Pensioners: John Eggleton, Peter Johns, Bryan Shanks, Don Matthews, Ted Roberts, Marjorie Cole, Bill Wright, Bruce Ozanne, Sandy Sanders and Ken McConchie
To see more pictures or read mroe about the event please go to:
David Cameron and Boris Johnson visited the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea
The London Mayor joined the Conservative leader at a visit to Chelsea Pensioners in west London when he suggested it should be compulsory for teenagers to do national service. Click here to read more and watch the Sky news video
The Dairy Council celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses with the Chelsea Pensioners
The Dairy Council celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. This festive tradition is much cherished by the Chelsea Pensioners, particularly as the Dairy Council donate a pound of cheese to each In-Pensioner. To see some of the ceremony taking place, please click here.
To see a video of an original cheese ceremony from 1965 please click here
Alan Titchmarsh helps to launch a Salute to Cooking on his ITV show
Chelsea Pensioner's star in The Alan Titchmarsh Show to promote the new Salute to Cooking book, which is in aid of the Chelsea Pensioner's Appeal.
To buy the celebrated 'A Salute to Cooking' cookbook or the Chelsea Pensioner Apron- Click Here
Lady Thatcher attends launch of 'A Salute to Cooking'
The evening was a great success, with all profits from 'A Salute to Cooking' going to the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal. The book is now available for sale in the Online Shop and in the Souvenir Shop at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity awards grant to The New Infirmary Project.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea received a major donation from the Free Mason’s Grand Charity to help in the completion costs of the New Margaret Thatcher Infirmary.
The grant was made by the Grand Charity to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the installation of HRH The Duke of Kent KG as the Grand Master of United Grand Lodge of England.
The Grant was collected on behalf of the Royal Hospital by Development Director David Hellens.
Chelsea Pensioners Gordon Sanders and Arthur Barrow, made a joint speech of thanks to HRH The Duke of Kent and the assembly on behalf of the Royal Hospital and the other charities who had also received grants during the ceremony.
Mrs Dorothy Hughes (85) and Miss Winifred Phillips (82), the first women to become In-Pensioners, were welcomed to the Hospital by the Governor, General the Lord Walker GCB CMG CBE DL, Adjutant Brigadier David Radcliffe OBE, as well as some of the current In-Pensioners, on the 12th of March.
Winifred and Dorothy accompanied by fellow In-Pensioners on their
first day in scarlets.
Winifred Phillips trained and qualified as a nurse before joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1948. She enlisted into the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) in 1949 whilst serving in Egypt. She completed 22 years' service with the Colours and retired in 1971 in the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2.
Dorothy Hughes joined the ATS in 1941 and was subsequently posted to 450 Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery in the London Division. In 1945 the Battery was deployed near Dover to defend against V1 rocket attacks. Dorothy later worked with the Army Operational Research Group developing fuses in shells used against V2 rockets and was discharged from the Army in 1946 in the rank of sergeant. After the war, Dorothy worked as a secretary before training as a teacher and eventually retiring in 1982. Dorothy says: "Everyone has been extremely kind and welcoming and I am very excited about the prospect of my new life at the Royal Hospital Chelsea."
Click here to read an article that was published in the Telegraph on the first women In-Pensioners.
David Cameron Canvasses the RHC
Conservative Leader David Cameron recently paid a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to meet some of it's famous residents. Following a stormy Prime Minister's Question Time, Mr Cameron took time to relax and chat with a group of enthusiastic Chelsea Pensioners. Before departing he declared how much he enjoyed meeting the In-Pensioners and described the Royal Hospital as a place of 'paradise'.
Newsletter 10 is now available online here.
Newsletter 9 is still available to download here.
Running For The Appeal
A team of runners set off to raise money for the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal in the 2008 British 10K London Run. Seven runners braved the wet and windy conditions and all completed the run, posting respectable finishing times. They were met before the race by In-Pensioners Colin Banks and Michael Allen who rose early to lend their support. Congratulations must go to all who took part and to everyone who kindly sponsored and supported the runners.
Princess Royal reviews Founder's Day
HRH The Princess Royal paid a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to mark the annual Founder's Day, held to commemorate the Hospital's founding in 1682 by King Charles II. It was the fourth time Princess Anne has reviewed the Chelsea Pensioners as they paraded and lined up for inspection in their traditional Scarlet jackets and Tricorne hats. Baroness Thatcher and former prime minster John Major were also in attendance to hear HRH The Princess Royal pay tribute to the ranks of veteran soldiers and staff of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, General the Lord Walker said of the occasion: "It was a splendid day - blessed with fine weather. I thought the day was quite brilliant and everyone I have spoken to expressed similar sentiments."
Chaplain Crosses The Finish Line
Congratulations to the Royal Hospital Chaplain, Dick Whittington, who successfully completed the London Marathon with a time of 3 hours and 58 minutes. Dick has crowned this tremendous achievement by raising over £40,000 for the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal.
Infirmary named in honour of Lady Thatcher
Lady Thatcher was welcomed by a group of Chelsea Pensioners, to celebrate the naming of the new Infirmary. In recognition of her close ties and longstanding support of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the new Infirmary will officially be known as 'The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary'.
Margaret Thatcher poses with In-Pensioners John Ley, David Poultney, John Walker and Charles McLaughlin - 14th February 2008