PICKERING Rotary Club recently welcomed a Chelsea Pensioner to speak to the group.

A chance meeting in Okehampton led to Rotarian Ian Williams inviting a Chelsea Pensioner Brian Cumming to journey north to Yorkshire.

Mr Cumming entertained a large audience at the Steam and Moorland Garden Centre’s restaurant near Pickering with an illuminating and hilarious description of his life as a Chelsea Pensioner.

Brian completed his talk with photographs showing the hospital as it is now. He also created much amusement with his tales of recent visits to the hospital.

Next month a group of Pickering Rotarians will visit the Royal Hospital Chelsea for a personal tour led by Brian.

President Luke Arnold proposed the vote of thanks, adding: "It has been a most informative and fascinating insight into what is clearly a most unique hospital."