MAY 3RD DAY TRIP TO ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA. - BY BILL BRAND

Here we are on our way to be picked up at Downend at 9:00 a.m. with an almost full coach of 44 bodies. The weather is dull, overcast and cold but dry. There is a promise of warmer weather to come as the day progresses. Our driver Trevor makes very good progress with the advantage of the bus lanes and in no time at all we are on the motorway and heading for London. One comfort break on the way with an opportunity to get warm then back on the coach and heading for Chelsea where we have lunch planned for about 12:00 mid-day at The National Army Museum then on to the Royal Hospital Chelsea (right next door). We had permission to park in the Hospital grounds which is not normally permitted, and we overshot the entrance just a little, stopped and David enquired as to where we had to go. Trevor backed up the coach (no mean feat in London) and then we turned into the Hospital gates opened just for us and we parked safely and securely almost opposite the guard room-great stuff; Round the corner to the Army Museum for lunch which we had pre-booked.

We had a little time to have a look around the museum and shop and then we made our way back to the Hospital where we were met by our guide for the day at 1:30 p.m. a really smashing chap called Bill (Paddy) Fox. A spry gentleman in his 70's; a former Staff Sergeant with 36 years' military service. He is part Irish and reckoned he had never kissed the Blarney Stone-he swallowed it. He was dressed in the traditional red with a stiff black kepi used for formal use. There is a soft kepi they use for everyday wear and the tricorn hat is only worn these days for ceremonial occasions. His delivery was smooth, knowledgeable and quite humorous. The hospital site is very beautifully impressive as can be seen from the photographs, and covers 65 acres. There is new building work in progress. A new Infirmary (Care Home) for the pensioners and modernisation of their living accommodation-The Long Wards; to include en-suite facilities-financed by an appeal (The cost is scheduled at £35 million over four years). The Infirmary is scheduled for completion late in 2007 and the Long Wards modernisation is to be started in 2008.

We did see the occasional in pensioner performing normal day-to-day activities, but most of the pensioners were enjoying after lunch siesta. If you could see their normal daily menu you would appreciate how essential that must be. We were greeted at one point by the Governor as he passed. The tour was scheduled to end at about 3:00 p.m. but went on until well after 4. Back to the National Army Museum for afternoon tea where we were joined by our In Pensioner guide. 4:30p.m. and back on the coach where our guide joined us for a final farewell, then our return to Bristol right in the middle of the London rush hour, but once we hit the motorway progress was smooth and except for a quick comfort stop, our return was uneventful, arriving back in Bristol pretty well on schedule. The day (and weather) was organised with the usual smooth efficiency we have come to appreciate. Thank you David and Janet for a smashing day.