Leave a Lasting

www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk

LEAVE A LASTING

LEGACY www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk T: 020 7881 5522

The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded in The Royal Hospital is an independent THE ROYAL 1682 ‘For the succour and relief of veterans charity funded in part by a grant in aid from broken by age and war’. Over 300 years later Government. But the shortfall - including all HOSPITAL it continues to serve this same purpose, caring expenditure on capital projects - has to be CHELSEA for old and infirm veteran soldiers to whom raised through legacies, charitable donations the nation owes a debt of gratitude. and other income generating activities.

The Royal Hospital, and the famous scarlet- In recent years we have successfully raised coated Chelsea Pensioners who live within it, sufficient to fund an extensive programme stand as the very embodiment of the military of modernisation to make sure the care covenant made between the nation and those facilities and accommodation remain fit for who serve in its army so selflessly, willing if purpose. But much remains to be done if we necessary to make the ultimate sacrifice. are to secure the future for those who will need our help in the years to come, including Today the Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to the young men and women who have served some 300 Chelsea Pensioners. It gives them a so bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan - tomorrow’s new life within a vibrant community founded Chelsea Pensioners. on the rock of comradeship: a home within which they will live and be well cared for until If you share our vision you may wish to help they die, certain that they will never be alone. by leaving the Royal Hospital Chelsea the That was our Founder’s enduring vision, and it gift of a legacy. Your legacy will enable us to is our intention to secure that vision for future improve the facilities and living conditions of generations. To do so we need your support. the Chelsea Pensioners as well as helping us to secure a future for those young soldiers serving in the British Army today.

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Today’s Chelsea Pensioners have served our WHO ARE country, not only in World War II, but also in the many conflicts since including Korea, Malaya THE CHELSEA and the Falklands. All of them have a fascinating PENSIONERS? story to tell, both of their years with the military and back on Civvy Street.

As they reached old age, many found themselves alone and facing a future of insecurity and isolation. But, here at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, they have been given a new lease of life with the certainty of excellent care until they die.

“The camaraderie here? Fantastic, it really is”, says Chelsea Pensioner Brian Cumming MBE, who lost his wife after 58 years of marriage and came to the Royal Hospital a year later. “The moment I walked through the gates I knew this was where I should be, and it’s been like that ever since. It really is great.”

As the British Army continues to be called on to serve across the world, the Royal Hospital must prepare an appropriate home for future generations of veterans including those who have served in such places as the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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My name is Gordon “Sandy” Sanders. I am 77 After that length of time, your spouse is SANDY’S years of age and I am very proud to be a Chelsea everything to you. My wife was my best friend, Pensioner. I served in the Royal Electrical and my lover, my mother, my sister. After her death, STORY Mechanical Engineers between 1952 and 1976. I was so lonely. I was talking to my niece about how I was feeling when she mentioned the Personally, I came from a military family. So, Royal Hospital Chelsea. Her father-in-law, Pat, going into the Army was an obvious choice. was already here. She put me in touch with I served for 24 years in British Honduras, him. That was all it took. I came down, met Pat, Germany, Cyprus - all over really - before did my four day assessment stay and moved in working first for the Shah of Iran and then, after on 5th January 2009. the Revolution, for Racal Electronics. I stayed with Racal until 1986. That’s when my wife was Being here has taken away the loneliness of diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and we my bereavement. My days are full, helping in decided to move to Portugal. the Commercial Department with fundraising and I’m also an active Freemason. The biggest By 1999, she was so ill that we had to return to thing that keeps you going is the banter - England in the hope of finding a kidney donor. no one has a good word to say about anyone We found a donor…me. It’s amazing when you else and we wouldn’t have it any other way! think about it. The chances of it happening are It keeps us alive! so slim. I was 65 then, too old for an op like that really, but it gave my wife another seven and a half years of happiness. She died on 12th July 2007. We’d been married for 48 years.

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However much or little you feel able to leave us ● Open a specialist dementia unit in the HOW YOUR in your Will, you can rest assured that it will be Infirmary which is at the forefront of care used to help us repay the extraordinary debt for those with cognitive impairments. LEGACY of gratitude our nation owes to the brave men WILL HELP and women who have come to spend their Your gift of a legacy will help us to: final days with us. ● Update and modernise all our facilities to accommodate the increasing number So far, the money we have raised through of veterans who will come to us with legacies and charitable donations has severe disabilities. enabled us to: ● Pay for any future capital projects. ● Build the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary; ● Maintain the Grade I listed buildings a state-of-the-art care home and GP centre that form the vast majority of the Royal for veteran soldiers who need long- and Hospital premises. short-term nursing and medical attention. ● Safeguard the Royal Hospital Chelsea for ● Complete the first phase of our extensive the next 300 years, so that we can help modernisation programme to make the Chelsea Pensioner accommodation fit for guarantee our own financial security. purpose in the 21st century.

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My name is Alan Lee. I was born in 1924 After my wife Letty died, I had the feeling that ALAN’S and I am very proud to call myself a Chelsea everything was getting on top of me. When Pensioner. I would like to tell you a little bit you lose a partner, it’s the loneliness. You’re STORY about my life. sitting in a room and you’re looking at the chair that she always sat in. You envisage that she’s If I close my eyes I can see what happened on sitting in that chair again. Everything is singular, that fateful day in 1944 - D-Day - as though it everything, all the time. And the fact is you was yesterday. I joined the army at 14 years of think to yourself, when’s it all going to end? age, never having been in an aeroplane in my Next year…or the year after? So you decide life, let alone jumped out of one and I didn’t to do something about it while you still can. even think about war. I came to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in the August. I came for what I thought was going to We were all quiet in the plane, all encased in be a rest and tranquillity in my old age. But it our own thoughts or prayers and then you was quite the opposite! knew you were going out and you gave a last prayer to yourself. Even on exercises, you Friendship hits you from day one. Everybody don’t see the vast number like it was on that speaks to you. You’ve only got to go and sit particular day. All you want to do is to get the in the Club and you’re with friends and you ground to come closer to you as fast as you can sit with people who you think you’ve known because you’re vulnerable in the air. for a long time, because they have the same interests in life as you have had. The fact is that We had gone forwards when we were attacked these people, they’re with you for the rest of by a German vehicle and he was firing his your life, and I mean the rest of your life. cannon shells at us. We were all wounded and I lay on the ground with my leg at an angle When you wear your scarlets, you feel of 45 degrees. I picked it up and put it on my like a king because you get asked for your good leg and crawled into a ditch. The pain was photograph all the time. Life here is absolutely agonising. I didn’t think about losing the leg, first class. The Royal Hospital Chelsea is second not until the surgeon informed me that they’d to none - it’s a very happy home. taken it off. My friends who were wounded with me both died of their wounds. You wonder why God has spared you and not them.

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THROUGH THE EYES OF One of the highlights has definitely been We are part of the cityscape and we are I served for 35 years in the military and a I’m always amazed about how young the It’s like a huge regimental family. marching past the Cenotaph. I very much afforded tremendous respect when we wear soldier’s life is very hard. I knew all about the current serving soldiers look. They come Brian Cumming MBE THE CHELSEA PENSIONERS think of my father and my grandfather. They the scarlet. Now, they’re not respecting me Royal Hospital Chelsea a long, long time ago here for a bit of relaxation, and you think were both in the army and I grew up with personally, they’re respecting what I symbolise. – because I come from a military family. So, what they’re going to face. I’ve seen what stories of the two World Wars. You just wish I don’t know anybody who doesn’t feel proud when my wife died I thought this is the best they’re going to face, and it’s not pleasant. they could see you. walking out in scarlet. place in the world to be. Best care home in Tom Mullaney England without any shadow of a doubt. Barbara Whilds Malcolm Smart MBE Ray Huggins MBE

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MAKING THE PRACTICALITIES LEGACY OPTIONS INHERITANCE TAX Making a Will is the only way to ensure that If you decide you would like to leave a legacy If your estate is valued at more than a certain A WILL your estate is distributed as you would wish to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, there are two amount set by the Government (currently after you die. For many people, a Will not options. The first is to leave a specific amount of £325,000), Inheritance Tax will be due on the only offers peace of mind, but is also a way of money, which is known as a Pecuniary Bequest. amount which is above that threshold, unless expressing support and thanks to the people the beneficiary is your spouse or civil partner. and organisations that have touched and The second option is to leave a share of inspired you throughout your life. what remains of your estate once your other However, if you leave a gift to a charity in wishes have been carried out. This is called a your Will, its value will not be included when Help from a professional advisor, usually a Residuary Bequest. Your advisor will be able to valuing your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, solicitor, is invaluable. He or she will be able help with how these legacies should be written which means that more of your money can go to make sure that your Will is watertight, so into your Will. where you wish. your wishes can be carried out without query or confusion. KEEPING YOUR WILL SAFE CONTACT US Before meeting with an advisor, it’s a good AND UP-TO-DATE If you are considering leaving us a gift in idea to spend some time considering the Once you have written your Will it’s important your Will, or have any queries about legacies value of your total estate and who you would to keep it in a safe place. Your bank or solicitor in general, please don’t hesitate to contact like to benefit from your Will. You will also can usually offer this service. Set a date to our Fundraising Team: need to decide who you would like to be your review your Will every few years, as your executors. An executor will ensure that your T: 020 7881 5522 circumstances may change. Will is properly carried out and can be anyone E: [email protected] you choose. Some people appoint their solicitor If you have already made a Will, but decide you We will, of course, treat any information you to be their executor, others choose a friend would like to add the Royal Hospital Chelsea share with us in the strictest confidence. or relative. It doesn’t matter if the person you as a beneficiary, you can speak to your advisor appoint benefits from the Will. about preparing a simple legal document Thank you for considering the known as a codicil. Royal Hospital Chelsea in your Will.

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12 The Royal Hospital Chelsea Royal Hospital Road London SW3 4SR

T: 020 7881 5522 E: [email protected] www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk

The Royal Hospital Chelsea Appeal Ltd. Registered Charity Number: 1076414