PW_4_2023

Article

Meeting the Chelsea Pensioners Ryan Fitt , London North Branch, Vice-Chair Last July, nine member of the 9 Region were guests at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, home of the famous Chelsea Pensioners. T he hospital rarely opens its doors to the public , so it was a privilege to gain an insight into the working hospital and the daily life of its residents. Our kind host Bert, a resident pensioner at the hospital gave us a two hour tour of the hospital grounds and told us about some of its historical residents. The tour included a look around the famous chapel, where Margaret Thatcher attended services every Sunday with her husband. After the tour, we were taken to the famous mess hall, which caters for around 500 of its residents and staff three times a day. Here, we saw commemorative plaques honouring every battle the UK forces have been involved in since the opening of the hospital some 350 years ago. The tour ended with members accompanying Bert and other Chelsea Pensioners, to the resident’s bar for a few pints of very reasonably priced beer and some stories of old times. Thank you to the Royal Chelsea Hospital and its residents for hosting such a fantastic event and making us feel so welcome.

POLICE WORLD Vol 68 No.4, 2023

17