ROYAL HOSPITAL TOUR RAISES OVER £200 FOR CHELSEA PENSIONERS' APPEAL.

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Dated: 28-Sept-09

A Group of Knights and dames from the Order of ST George as well as our friends in the Commandery of Aragon in the Order of ST Lazarus were entertained by Chelsea Pensioner Staff Sgt Paddy Fox when he took them on a most enjoyable tour of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 26th September 2009.

From its distinctive red brick exterior to its beautifully designed interiors the Royal Hospital remains a remarkable and historical building.

Chelsea Visit

The glorious late summer weather provided the ideal backdrop for Paddy's informative and witty tour of the Home which was founded by Charles the Second. We learnt that there are a number of myths about the eligibility requirements for admission to the Home. Applicants do not need to have held particular rank: instead, they must draw an Army pension and have no dependants. It is estimated that being admitted as a Pensioner adds on average 10 good years to the lifespan of the residents, many of whom, of course, are widowers.

Chelsea Visit

Pensioners live in "berths"-comfortable and cosy rooms with hatches which open up onto corridors, meaning that they can chat to their friends as they walk past and also that Pensioners wanting a little privacy to read or nap can simply close the hatches and put their feet up.

There is much communal activity, and pensioners who are not laid up in the Infirmary come together for 3 meals a day in a dining hall with an excellent choice of very good food.

Many pensioners have jobs, including working in the Museum, the gift shop or as guides. Paddy proudly showed us around his rose garden and presented the ladies with fragrant roses as a memento of their visit before joining us for a hearty lunch.