Meeting a Chelsea Pensioner!

My first highlight of 2019 started off in Chelsea.

Armed with my portfolio, a couple of products and suitably hydrated with Victoria’s best coffee, I headed off to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in search of the gift shop.

I was there to pitch my business and sound like a 40 year old who had been in the industry for decades!

After a fantastic meeting (which will be revealed in the next few months eeek!) I was given the opportunity to be shown round the grounds by a true Chelsea Pensioner.

I was introduced to Mike, and I knew we were going to get on fine.

We started in the museum, where he shared stories of his past in the Army, and detailing the medals displayed on the walls. Checking off the list of medal owners, that were no longer with us. (A common theme of the generation I presume, as I hear my grandparents ticking off the ‘Christmas Card’ list.)

We visited the ‘Margaret Thatcher Infirmary’ - a brilliant addition to the hospital in which there is round the clock care available.

Heading into their lovely cafe and being the gentleman that he was, Mike bought me a coffee. Bonding on the fact we both drink it black, he was intrigued with my camera that I had been snapping away with the whole morning. As he reminisced about a photography class he attended and with a mini refresher, I handed over the camera.

Assuming he would take snaps of the beautiful scenery we were surrounded in, to my horror he pointed it in my direction! I did my best in looking as calm as possible, but delighted about my new found friendship!