Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, recently visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea to participate in the traditional ceremony of “stirring the Christmas Pudding”, which is prepared every year for the famous Chelsea Pensioners.
Mark, in his new role as Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans at the MOD, has also been appointed as one of the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital of Chelsea. In this role, Mark has a responsibility for helping to assist in overseeing the welfare of the famous red coated Chelsea Pensioners, who have served in the Armed Forces down the years and now live in the iconic hospital in West London.
As well as participating in the ceremony, by pouring ingredients into a giant mixing bowl and helping to stir them, Mark was also taken on a tour of the hospital by the Governor, General Sir Redmond Watt, where he was shown, among other things, the new Margaret Thatcher Infirmary, which is a purpose built medical centre added onto the hospital in recent years and named after former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Commenting on his visit to the Royal Hospital of Chelsea, Mark said:
“One of the most pleasant duties I now have as a Minister at the MOD is to have some involvement with the Royal Hospital and to get to know a number of the Chelsea Pensioners. These are remarkable men – and now some women Pensioners too – who have done so much for our country down the years. By tradition, every year they are cooked a Christmas pudding and, having seen it being prepared, I think there is probably as much alcohol in it as food! I hope the Pensioners really enjoy their Christmas Pud and it was great fun to have the chance to participate in making it.”