This week Belton Farm joined cheesemakers from across the UK to mark the start of the festive season at the Annual Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses. Together, we donated some of our finest products to the veterans of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

An impressive 730 lbs just over 330 kilograms of British cheese was gifted this year to the Chelsea Pensioners, continuing a cherished tradition of giving from the dairy industry to the Royal Hospital community.

Organized by Dairy UK, this historic event dates back to 1692 and is a highlight of the festive calendar at the Royal Hospital. The tradition began when Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, invited local cheesemongers to provide cheese for the Pensioners in the year the hospital opened.

What began as an informal act of kindness grew over the years and 64 years ago, became an official organized event, a testament to the longstanding relationship between Britain’s cheesemakers and the veterans of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.