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On 12 December, veterans from the wider community joined Chelsea Pensioners for a carol service in the Royal Hospital’s Wren Chapel. Afterwards, they enjoyed refreshments –including mulled wine and mince pies – and a chance to mingle and make friends in the magnificent State Apartments. 

Sharing songs and stories

As part of our mission to connect with veterans beyond our gates we welcomed guests, including former servicemen and women, to an uplifting Christmas carol service. All of us at the Royal Hospital – not least the Chelsea Pensioners – are keen to include other veterans in some of our activities. Occasions like this are a wonderful opportunity to extend companionship with those who might be leading isolated lives. A shared background in the Armed Forces brings an immediate connection and singing together uplifts and bonds people.

It was a joyful occasion. The Royal Hospital’s singing group, clad in their Scarlet tunics, filled the choir stalls and led the congregation as they sang well-loved Christmas favourites. Our Chaplain Steven Brookes presided, asking guests to put forward requests, while Director of Music Will Vann accompanied the singers on the organ.  

Boosting wellbeing and bringing people together

The carols were enjoyed by Pensioners and veterans alike. Alan, who is a keen member of the Royal Hospital’s singing group, says it was a memorable occasion:

“It was a nice event and gave us the opportunity to sing in the choir stalls. I’ve been to a couple of the outreach singing events and people really enjoy it. It’s a brilliant atmosphere. There’s nothing like singing to take your mind off things and improve your wellbeing.”

Dewi agrees, adding “we get so much here, it’s good to share it with people who are outside”.

Sean, who was in the parachute regiment for 22 years, was visiting the Royal Hospital for the second time and hopes to come again. He told us what the service meant to him:

“As we came out, myself and another former soldier agreed it was a treat. It’s just lovely. The place is beautiful – only this country has the depth and history to create this. And being among this type of people, people of this calibre, makes it special, because it means something. Everyone meant what they were singing.”

Another former veteran who found the event “uplifting” was Nicky, who runs a choir for veterans with mental health issues. He says that singing together is very therapeutic: 

“I’m living proof. I saw active service and when I came out, I was a wreck, I had a drink problem and PTSD and singing saved my life.”

 

Companionship at Christmas 

The oldest guest was 99-year-old former Wren Ruth, who came with her daughter Elaine. “It’s been lovely. The best thing has been meeting people”, she told us.

Younger veterans included Michael – who attended with his dog Chewy. Michael was left with spinal injuries and PTSD after his time in the Royal Anglia regiment. He made up his mind to see more of the Chelsea Pensioners after the Veterans Trauma Network told him about a sing-along event at the Royal Hospital:

“At the end, I was singing We’ll Meet Again with some of the Chelsea Pensioners and I thought, ‘I need to get more involved’. The Pensioners come to all the weekly veterans’ breakfast clubs and whenever there’s an opportunity to come here, I do. There’s something about the kind of person who becomes a Chelsea Pensioner. They’re very accommodating, very welcoming and they do great things here.”

Michael believes that much of the camaraderie comes from a mutual understanding:

“We’ve all sworn the oath as young men, we all put our lives on the line and wanted to do whatever it took to help our country. So there's a camaraderie in our commitment and in the brotherhood that you get in the army, people always say what's the best thing about the Army – you make friends.” 

Showing veterans they’re not alone 

Outreach events like this also offer an opportunity to connect veterans with other organisations, that might be helpful to them. Amanda, from the Samaritans, says it encourages people to address their difficulties:

“Once you start talking to somebody one-to-one, in a relaxed comfortable setting, they just feel able to open up. It’s amazing just having someone there to listen. We had someone still suffering from PTSD from years ago and just needed that opportunity to get support.  I think it's great that the Royal Hospital is opening up and bringing in other veterans.”

Barbara, a Chelsea Pensioner who is passionate about the outreach project and devotes much of her time to attending events like this, emphasises the importance of that one-to-one connection:

“We are the lucky 300 that live here – but we are only a very small percentage of the veterans who are out there, of all services, not just the Army, who are in need of help and companionship when they get older and are isolated. These get-togethers are great. We get other organisations from the Department of Work and Pensions to military charities like SSAFA to come along. Older people need face-to-face. We want to reach as many people as we can.” 

The last word goes to Chelsea Pensioner Phil. He says outreach events like this are great “because it shows veterans someone cares and they’re not on their own”.