In the 90th year since the end of the First World War, veterans at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea were honoured with donations of cheese at The Dairy Council's annual Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses on Wednesday, December 3.
Amongst others, Wales was represented by Clynderwen-based Pant Maw Farmhouse Cheeses, who kindly donated some of their Caws Preseli cheese.
Barry Nicholls, chairman of The Dairy Council, said: "The Cheese Ceremony is a fantastic opportunity for the dairy industry to pay tribute to the bravery and heroism of our war veterans. It is a wonderful and festive event, heaped in tradition and pageantry, which The Dairy Council has been organising for nearly 50 years now."
At the ceremony, Bob Costley, aged 95, who served in the Royal Artillery, was watched by his fellow veterans as he cut the ceremonial cheese with a sword.
Costley said: "This is a very special Cheese Ceremony, as this year marks 90 years since the end of the First World War. I am thankful that The Dairy Council recognises our efforts with this annual ceremony and am honoured to cut the ceremonial cheese on behalf of my fellow veterans."
Dr Judith Bryans, director of The Dairy Council, said: "We are very grateful to Pant Maw Farmhouse Cheeses who kindly donated their Caws Preseli cheese, and are certain that the pensioners will enjoy it during the holidays."
Every year, British cheesemakers from across the country kindly donate their cheese and present it to the pensioners. The tradition began in 1692 when the hospital asked a local cheesemonger to provide the pensioners with cheese as a Christmas treat.