Leave a Lasting
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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. 1 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. 1 www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk T: 020 7881 5522 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. 2 3 www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk T: 020 7881 5522 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. 2 3 www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk T: 020 7881 5522 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. 4 5 www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk T: 020 7881 5522 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.