Longevity & Legacy Portraits 2022 – My Tale of a Chelsea Pensioner.

In London some years back, after a brief hustle bustle walk from Sloane Square, as planned I made it to the entrance of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Stepping through the gate I felt it a strangely sleepy morning – no other visitors, no tour guides, no guide maps for a self-tour; all I had was my own map and notes about what I hoped to see in this historical place, which this year celebrated its 330^th anniversary; built in 1692, another of Christopher Wren’s legacy buildings.

As I stood at the front of the inner courtyard, gawking around, suddenly someone ambled by with a welcome – a Chelsea Pensioner. No, not dressed in the famous red uniform, but a light blue short-sleeve shirt, day cap and trousers. In the interest of privacy, I will call him John. Two hours later, not only had 81 year old John given me a complete personal tour of what any visitor would see, but he also invited me into the common area for residents only and into his own private room.

Generous to be sure; I learned of John’s military career, his family and of a day in the life here at the Royal Hospital. Of course, I shared the story of my father’s WW2 service in the Coldstream Guards which created more story-telling, not of war but of service and the comradeship of veterans. John introduced me to a few of his mates along the way, and as we stood in his room he opened his wardrobe and gave me his regimental tie as a memento of our time together.

Over that morning John had carefully guided me through the entire grounds showing me the many splendid features of the Royal Hospital which included the Chapel and the great dining hall where the long table, that the Duke of Wellington lay in state on for a week in 1852, still stood against a wall.

And by the way I did see a small group of Pensioners in their scarlet uniforms and their tricorne hats rehearsing for an upcoming event.

Oh so it goes, of all the unexpected moments in my London pilgrimages, thanks to John, this is one memory that will last forever, as I still keep his regimental tie.