Cheese ceremony gets on its dancing shoes

Glitz and glamour came to the Royal Hospital Chelsea when the UK television show Strictly Come Dancing’s much loved dancing duo, Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag, took to the floor with Chelsea Pensioners to mark the start of the festive season. The dancers were surprise guests for a tradition that dates back more than 300 years – the Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses.

The ceremony began in 1692 when the Royal Hospital Chelsea, asked a local cheesemonger to provide the pensioners with cheese as a Christmas treat. Ever since, cheese makers from all over the country have continued the tradition and donated a selection of cheeses to the Chelsea Pensioners.

The Dairy Council has been organising the donations for over 50 years. They are presented to the in-pensioners during a special ceremony at the Hospital.

Sandy Wilkie, chairman of Dairy Council says: “We are delighted that Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag were able to bring some of the Christmas spirit to our heroes today, dancing to the Orchestra of the Household Division Welsh Guards. We are also pleased that once again the men and women of the Royal Hospital will enjoy fine quality British cheeses this Christmas. Cheese has always been a favourite with soldiers and was handed out in their rations when serving on the front line in the two World Wars. The nutrition in dairy foods has a big part to play in this.”

A 24 kg Montgomery Cheddar, kindly donated by J.A. & E. Montgomery, was ceremonially cut by In-Pensioner Paddy Fox, aged 80 from Tipperary. Fox says, “It is a great honour to take part in this wonderful ceremony. I am proud to represent the In-Pensioners here at the Royal Hospital. We cannot thank the cheese makers enough for their generous contributions or Anton Du Beke and Erin for taking the time to come and visit us. It truly took us back to the times of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers.”

A video of the ceremony will be uploaded to www.DairyCouncil.TV