Strictly Come Dancing stars Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag took to the floor at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Wednesday to celebrate the annual Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses.
The ceremony, which is over 300 years old, sees cheesemakers donate cheeses to the hospital for consumption by its residents, the Chelsea Pensioners.
Star of the BBC show Du Beke danced with Boag and also some of the pensioners to music played by the Orchestra of the Household Division Welsh Guards. “Some of the Pensioners are still very light on their feet and were up for a spin. I’ll be doing well if I can do the same at their age,” he said.
Cheese had always been a favourite with soldiers and was handed out in their rations when serving on the front line in the two world wars, added Sandy Wilkie, chairman of Dairy Council.
“We are also pleased that once again the men and women of the Royal Hospital will enjoy fine quality British cheeses this Christmas.”
The ceremony began in 1692 when the hospital asked a local cheesemonger to provide the pensioners with cheese as a Christmas treat.
The ceremonial cheese – cut by Chelsea pensioner Paddy Fox, aged 80, from Tipperary – was a 24kg Montgomery Cheddar, donated by cheesemaker JA & E Montgomery.
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