Cheesemakers from South Caernarfon Creameries (SCC) have donated Caerphilly, Cheddar, Halen Mȏn and Welsh red cheeses today (Tuesday, December 20) to the Chelsea Pensioners – war veterans at Royal Hospital Chelsea.
SCC, based in Chwilog, near Pwlheli, said the donations to the hospital are to honour the veterans and their service.
The Ceremony of the Christmas Cheese is a tradition that dates back to the opening of the hospital in 1692, when architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral, asked local cheesemongers to provide the pensioners with cheese as a Christmas treat.
Alan Wyn Jones, the managing director of SCC, said: “We were delighted to once again have the opportunity to donate a selection of our fine cheeses to the Chelsea Pensioners.
“The Ceremony of the Christmas Cheese is a fantastic tradition that encapsulates the spirit of giving during the festive period and is a practical and tasty way of thanking the former servicemen and women for their service to the country.
“Long may it continue.”
The traditional cutting of the ceremonial cheese was carried out this year by Chelsea Pensioner Michael Allen, who joined the army as a Boy Apprentice as a 15-year-old.
Also taking part in the ceremony were Chelsea Pensioners Ted Fell and Roy Palmer.
Dairy UK chair, Ash Amirahmadi, said “As an industry we take very seriously our responsibility as one of the food sectors that helps to feed this nation.
“We know that people rely on us and although this year hasn’t been easy for the sector, we have all worked hard to make sure there have been great tasting nutritious and increasingly sustainable dairy foods on supermarket shelves.
“It’s an honour for us to be able to share many of our finest British cheeses with the men and women of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea today.”
