Chelsea Pensioners’ Visit 2025

153 years of military service paraded at The Proof House when eight In-Pensioners from The Royal Hospital Chelsea visited on Tuesday 12 August 2025.



Despite the 31°C they looked magnificent in their ‘Scarlets’ (never ‘Reds’) and their gleaming medals, so much so that the Master matched them in fighting off a chill by donning his gown, as the photograph shows. ‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’ were met by the Master, Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Proof Master and Liveryman Hallowes. Michael has developed a first-class relationship with the Hospital and liaises regularly there with Lt Col De De Watts. Their Governor, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE DL, will lunch with the Company in September.

The entrée was a talk by the Master on our history, followed by mains with the Proof Master explaining our work before showing examples maintained by the Company.



The Pensioners then stamped their own key fobs with the military proof mark to record their visit before retiring to the cool Court Room for tea and biscuits to learn about the Livery followed by discussions on military and mutually related matters.

Jubilant and entertained the party left at 3.30pm, sorry 15.30hrs!