Pottery Classes in the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary

The latest pastime on the activities schedule in the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary is a pottery class, taking place every Tuesday. Each week the teacher, Emily Hall works with the pensioners from the Infirmary to transform the activity room into an Aladdin's cave of clay creations. From fruit bowls and vases, to sculptures and mini figurines, the Chelsea Pensioners are able to craft whatever they wish out of the huge slabs of clay that Emily provides.

The results will either be used as presents to family and friends, or will decorate their berths, and plans are being discussed to put on an exhibition of the work once a portfolio has been built up. The 7 regular attendees (a number that is increasing week by week) are currently learning basic techniques such as 'coiling' (rolling the clay into a long sausage and building it up to create a bowl shape) and 'slab building' (using pieces of flat clay).

Emily Hall has an upbeat, smiley demeanour and a passion for pottery that is contagious. In particular, listening to her speak about her work with older people (she also runs a similar class at Nightingale, a nursing and residential care home in Clapham) reveals the true benefit of clay. She recounts how the class can mean so many different things to each person. Some want to get really stuck in, others just want to sit and chat and others like to do the painting but if the atmosphere is right, with drinks and music it is always a success.

There are also obvious physical therapeutic elements to crafting clay - it is good exercise for the muscles in the hands to keep them moving, but there is also an emotional element to it - the sense of achievement and satisfaction when your work comes out of the kiln is strong.

Emily studied 3D sculpting at Brighton and whilst focusing on pottery she learnt the processes and techniques. However when working with the residents of Nightingale and the Royal Hospital Chelsea, these become only loosely significant. For her, it is more about your way of thinking, being inquisitive and noticing the little things about someone, analysing their behaviour and trying out different things with them. It is a conversation starter, a way of socialising and reminiscing about things they have done. What a fantastic way to spend your Tuesday afternoon!

These Chelsea Pensioners might soon be changing their trade to become the Chelsea Potters - watch this space!

Spring Cleaning at the Royal Hospital Chelsea

We're doing a bit of spring cleaning at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and discovered some fascinating pictures from our past that highlight how we have stayed true to our original purpose 'To provide succour and relief to veterans broken by age and war' over the past 321 years. Most of our buildings and many of our traditions have remained intact during this time. 

The Long Wards haven't changed much over the years, but the berths (the Chelsea Pensioner's rooms) were enlarged from 6x6ft to 9x9ft in the 1900's. More seating and desks have also been added for their convenience. 

A major refurbishment programme is now underway to give every Chelsea Pensioner an en suite bedroom with a private study area, whilst still preserving the communal areas that are so important to fostering the community spirit that the Royal Hospital Chelsea is renowned for.

Our tradition of Founder's Day continues to be celebrated annually at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and is a great source of pride for the Chelsea Pensioners and staff. Founder's Day is held as close as possible to King Charles II's birthday (29th May) and the anniversary of the date of his restoration as King every year. Founder's Day is also known as Oak Apple Day as it commemorates the escape of King Charles after the Battle of Worcester (1651) when he hid in an oak tree to avoid capture by the Parliamentary forces.

Prince Harry reviewing the Chelsea Pensioners in 2011

The Chelsea Pensioners are usually reviewed by a member of the Royal Family every year.

 The original Infirmary was bombed during the Second World War. The new Margaret Thatcher Infirmary (designed by Quinlan Terry) was completed in 2009. It is registered as a care home and can accommodate up to 100 Chelsea Pensioners with en suite facilities. 

You can contribute to the work that we do here at the Royal Hospital Chelsea by making a donation to the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal here.

Running the London Marathon for the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal - by Sharon Cairney

The friend who supported me at mile thirteen and again at mile twenty three of the 2013 London Marathon was the reason I got excited about running. Tania ran the London Marathon in 2008 and inspired me to run, with her enthusiasm about being a part of what many say is the greatest marathon in the world. 

My application was unsuccessful four years in a row until October 2012, when I received my much wanted ‘Congratulations’ magazine. Training began that October with three weeks of running/walking then I started a twenty six week programme which would bring me up to race day. Everything went pretty much to plan until late February when I was constantly tired and even the smallest run was hard work. A blood donor session two weeks earlier had showed I was low in iron so I couldn’t donate. Further GP tests showed I needed an iron supplement. A week away on holiday meant I was then almost three weeks behind in training. I didn’t manage the peak run of twenty miles as I had included hills that even cars struggled with! The bitter icy cold wind that day meant I only completed seventeen miles. Despite all of this I told myself that I was still ready for the 26.2 miles and was strong enough to push out nine more miles on the day. A three week taper stage meant there was no more time to try the twenty miles again so I concentrated on strength training.

Race day was the most incredible experience from leaving the Royal Hospital Chelsea, getting the tube with other runners to crossing the finishing line. The crowds on route were nothing like I ever expected as the ENTIRE route had people cheering, playing music and very importantly, handing out jelly babies! Every time someone called out my name, which was on my vest, I had a big smile and a wave for them. The ever cheering crowds around the last mile got my wobbly lip and tears. It was so emotional knowing I was about to finish the London Marathon. I broke down the second I stepped onto the finishing mat and had a few tears wearing my medal proudly around my neck.

A short walk back to the Royal Hospital Chelsea brought me to Eric, my Nana’s cousin who is a Chelsea Pensioner, and my son Dan. Eric was the reason I chose to run for the 'Chelsea Pensioners’ Appeal’. My husband and I visited Eric for the first time last August and were blown away with the surroundings and feel of the Hospital. Eric proudly showed us his home and invited us to dine with him and the other Chelsea Pensioners in the Great Hall. Here we found out the true meaning of comradeship as our treasured veterans sat side by side at ease.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea will forever more be a special place to my family and we look forward to a visit again this summer. 

If you would like to sponsor Sharon you can do so here. 

Something for the Weekend - Chelsea Pensioner Dorothy Hughes' recipe for Welsh Cakes

It's Friday at last!

If you're looking for something tasty to cook over the weekend, why not try Dorothy's recipe for Welsh Cakes?

Dorothy Hughes was one of the first female Chelsea Pensioners to reside at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, arriving in 2009.

8 oz self raising flour

4 oz butter

3 oz castor sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

3 oz sultanas

1 oz mixed peel

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 large egg

Small quantity of milk if mix is too dry

Small amount of flour for rolling out mixture

1. Put flour, butter, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon into food mixer and mix well.

2. Add the beaten egg with the lemon juice.

3. Mix until it forms a cake-like consistency.

4. Pulse in the fruit.

5. Turn out onto a lightly-floured pastry board and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness.

6. Cut into 2 1/2 inch circles.

7. Put a lightly greased griddle or very heavy frying pan over a very low heat.

8. Brown the cakes on one side for about 2 minutes then turn them over and repeat the process.

9. Place on a wire tray to cool, then dust with icing sugar

This quantity makes about 20 cakes and you can store them for 1-2 weeks.

This recipe is taken from the Salute to Cooking recipe book which was published to raise money for the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal. You can buy a copy here.

A Photographic Tribute to Baroness Thatcher

Since 2002, Baroness Thatcher has been a very strong supporter of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and its charity, the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal. 

All at the Royal Hospital were deeply saddened to hear of her passing and touched that her family requested donations to the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal rather than flowers. 

Lady Thatcher visiting the Chelsea Pensioners
during the build of the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary

Lady Thatcher at the opening of the
Margaret Thatcher Infirmary in April 2009

Lady Thatcher at the launch of the
Salute to Cooking book on her birthday in 2009

If you would like to make a donation to the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal in support of Baroness Thatcher you can do so here.

Over the centuries, the Royal Hospital Chelsea has faithfully delivered Charles II’s vision of retirement living to thousands of veteran soldiers. The Royal Hospital Chelsea is not owned by the state and thus cares for, maintains and modernises its unique historic environment through our own efforts and those of our supporters.

Today, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is recognised internationally as exemplary in promoting a fitting home for veterans. Chelsea Pensioners find friendship, compassion and professional support in a unique and historic setting.

To sustain this unparalleled community in the 21^st century and beyond, the Royal Hospital Chelsea completed the building of the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary in 2009 and has now embarked on a project to refurbish the Chelsea Pensioners’ living quarters, known as Long Wards, and other welfare facilities. 

Money from the Appeal goes towards the day-to-day running costs of the Royal Hospital and any capital projects, such as the building of the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary in 2009 which cost £27.5 million.

RHC Open the 2013 London English Song Festival - by William Vann

Hope you all had a lovely Easter!

The dates have now been announced for the 2013 London English Song Festival and the Royal Hospital Chelsea Chapel Choir will be opening the series on Thursday 2nd May with a rare treat as they perform some of the most outstanding secular choral music written in the beautiful Wren Chapel.

Benjamin Britten's five Flower Songs are some of the finest examples of 20th century choral writing, beginning with a setting of Herrick's wonderful poem To Daffodils and ending with a flourish as the words to the tongue-twisting song Green Broom are repeated over and over again. The timing of this performance is very apt, with the Chelsea Flower Show opening at the Royal Hospital Chelsea very soon afterwards.

The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary surrounded by Daffodils

These works will be performed alongside part-songs, folk-songs and madrigals. The Renaissance period was the peak of madrigal writing in England under composers such as Orlando Gibbons, John Farmer, John Bennet, Thomas Morley and John Wilbye, and some of their greatest works appear in the concert, from Gibbons' melancholic The Silver Swan to Morley's appropriate and joyful Now is the month of maying.

After some quieter years, secular choral music in England underwent a revival among the Victorian-era composers, and the works of Hubert Parry, Robert Pearsall, Charles Villiers Stanford, Arthur Sullivan and Charles Wood have entered the canon of the favourite part-songs. Stanford's The Bluebird is a particular gem with its soprano solo hovering over the alto, tenor and bass-voices below. Finally, the folk-song revival under Vaughan Williams led to some of his most sumptuous work, and his arrangement of the Turtle Dove will also be performed.

We must hope that May brings better weather than so far in 2013 but, regardless, if you attend on the 2nd May, we will enjoy an hour of stunning choral music, followed by a glass of something thoroughly refreshing in the Figure Court of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Tickets are £14 in advance (£11 for concessions and Friends) or £15 on the door (£12 for concessions and Friends).

If you would like to buy tickets to the performance at the Royal Hospital please visit our website. If you are eligible for a concession or Friends discount, please call us on 020 7881 5324 or email boxoffice@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk

You can also find out more about the London English Song Festival.

Countdown to the 100th Chelsea Flower Show...

With less than a month until the Royal Horticultural Society move in and begin the build of the 100th Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital Chelsea I thought you might enjoy a blog about the Chelsea Pensioners garden in 2005. I can't promise it will make you feel any warmer though...

In 2005, the Chelsea Pensioners teamed up with The Julian Dowle Partnership to create 'The Chelsea Pensioners Garden - A Soldiers' Dream of Blighty' with the help of sponsorship from Ecover. This was the Royal Hospital Chelsea's first garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The show garden was set in 1945, as the war came to a close and soldiers were coming home. Much of the inspiration for the garden came directly from Chelsea Pensioners who served in the Second World War. The main feature was the traditional English pub and included bunting and a 'Dig for Victory' vegetable garden. It aimed to represent the dreams and aspirations of the soldiers away fighting for their homeland.

The show garden was awarded a Gold Medal, Best Show Garden and also won the BBC's People's Choice award!

Aerial view of the Chelsea Flower Show and the Royal Hospital Chelsea buildings, 2005

For a lovely video clip showing the garden in action (with a guest appearance from a few Chelsea Pensioners) have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Rcza4jP_k