Ron ’Chopper’ Harris helps Chelsea Pensioners ring in the festive season
The nation’s favourite veterans began their Christmas celebrations yesterday with a tradition that dates back more than three hundred years, this year joined by Chelsea FC legend Ron ’Chopper’ Harris.
The tradition of cheesemakers donating their cheeses to the Royal Hospital started in 1692 when the Hospital asked a local cheesemonger to provide the pensioners with cheese as a Christmas treat.
Ever since, cheesemakers from all over the country have continued the tradition.
The Dairy Council has been organising the donations for over 50 years. They are presented to the in-pensioners during a special ceremony at the Hospital. Dr Judith Bryans, Director of The Dairy Council, said: ’We are delighted that once again the men and women of the Royal Hospital will enjoy fine quality British cheeses this Christmas. We’re very proud of the generosity that British Cheesemakers have shown in donating over 250kg of cheese to these much loved war veterans in order to pay tribute to their courage.’
Ron Harris said: ’I am so pleased to be here to be here with the Chelsea Pensioners for the Dairy Council’s Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses. Through my links with Chelsea FC I have had ties and friendships with the Pensioners for many years, but this is the first time I have been at this event and I am delighted to be part of a ceremony that dates back to 1692 and to chat to some of our country’s bravest men and women.’
Cheese has always been a favourite among British soldiers serving on the front line. It has been handed out in their rations since the First World War.
A 28 kg Montgomery Cheddar, donated by Jamie Montgomery of Montgomery Cheese in Somerset, was ceremonially cut by In-Pensioner Norman Mitchell, aged 92.
Mitchell, from North London, enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in July of 1940. After serving in the Middle East he joined the 8th Army in Africa, where his battalion was sent to fight in the Italian campaign at the Battle of Camino.
Norman Mitchell is much loved by the local community. He often goes to schools to regale the children with tales of life on the front line for a soldier in WWII. He has been an In-Pensioner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, since 2006, serving for part of that time as a Long Ward Sergeant.
Mitchell said: ’It is a great honour to take part in this wonderful ceremony. I am proud to represent the In-Pensioners here at the Royal Hospital. We cannot thank the cheesemakers enough for their generous contributions.’
Music was provided for the ceremony by the String Orchestra of the Household Division and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Grenadier Guards, under the direction of Captain Michael Smith.
Chea
