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This Christmas, we’re delighted to be sharing the Royal Hospital’s first-ever handmade advent calendar. From the photograph of the our colonnade – which forms the backdrop of the calendar – to the treasures hidden behind each door, every part of the calendar has been made by a Chelsea Pensioner. 

Everyone at the Royal Hospital would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas as we share below our special advent calendar reveal video. From the beautiful photograph of the colonnade to every piece of artwork behind each daily window, this was collaborative effort from the Chelsa Pensioners! 

Behind each door leading up to the 25th a piece of handcrafted artwork has been revealed. The creations include pottery, painting, jewellery, woodwork and knitting and together are a great display of all the wonderful talent we have within the Royal Hospital Chelsea. What a better way to celebrate them than at Christmas time!

Chelsea Pensioners and potter, John Riley, explained;

“Making things like the advent calendar gives you a sense of achievement and I like working with others. I’m less lonely and have an interest.”

You can watch the short film below, which also includes the voices of our Pensioners choir who sang at the unveiling of the calendar at the beginning of December. Please enjoy and Merry Christmas from us all at the Royal Hospital.

We would like to say a big thank you to all the Pensioners who contributed, Jenks&co for kindly creating the film and of course to our Pottery Tutor Emily Chilvers and her wonderful volunteers who designed and created the advent calendar.