Chelsea Pensioners enjoy Lord Leycester’s hopsitality

Brother John Maughan (on right) with his two Chelsea Pensioner friends John Humphreys 91 and Bill Gorrie 74 look around the Chantry Chapel of St James The Greater, within the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick, before the service by candlelight held on Monday night. Also pictured are Brother Bill Bradford and Brother Frank Beal.
MHLC-16-12-13 leycester dec47 — Brother John Maughan (on right) with his two Chelsea Pensioner friends John Humphreys 91 and Bill Gorrie 74 look around the Chantry Chapel of St James The Greater, within the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick, before the service by candlelight held on Monday night. Also pictured are Brother Bill Bradford and Brother Frank Beal. MHLC-16-12-13 leycester dec47

Choirboys from nearby St Mary’s Church added their voices during the candlelit service held in the 11th century chapel spanning High Street, built five centuries before Lord Leycester decided to add his hospital for the care of his former “brothers-in-arms.” Since then all elderly ex-servicemen have been referred to as “brothers,” including John Maughan (right) who welcomed his two Chelsea pals to the service. Mr Maughan showed them around and was proud tell them that as the hospital was founded in 1571 it pre-dates the Royal Hospital at Chelsea by 150 years.