Christmas cheese ceremony features ‘Strictly’ dancers
The ceremony dates back to to 1692 when a local cheesemonger agreed to provide war veterans at the hospital with their festive supply of cheese.
Cheese and dairy products have been included in soldiers rations for centuries and particularly in the two World Wars.
100 years old
To mark the First World War’s centenary, UK cheesemakers provided the Chelsea Pensioners with cheeses of up to 100 years old. The Dairy Council has organised the ceremony for the past 50 years.
Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace danced with pensioners Audrey Merton and Michael Dows in the Royal Hospital’s Great Hall to the music of the Household Division of the Welsh Guards.
The stars, who appeared many times on ‘Strictly’ before officially leaving the show after last year’s run, are currently featuring in their own West End show, ‘Dance 'til Dawn’.
“In the centenary year of the Great War, when so much attention has been focused on the sacrifice made by our war veterans, it is a pleasure and an honour to be asked to join the celebrations with the pensioners who are living heroes,” said Simone.
Sandie Wilkie, chairman of The Dairy Council, which has organised the ceremony for the past 50 years, said: “It is wonderful to end this centenary year with such a colourful and joyful occasion and we would like to thank Vincent and Flavia for bringing such glamorous Christmas spirit to our veterans.”
