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In the 90th year since the end of the First World War, The UK Dairy Council has once again hosted the Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London.

Dairy Council Chairman Barry Nicholls 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's a wonderful and festive event, heaped in tradition and pageantry, which The Dairy Council has been organising for nearly 50 years.”

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.

At the Ceremony, 95-year-old Bob Costley, who served in the Royal Artillery, cut the ceremonial cheese with a sword. “This is a very special Cheese Ceremony, as this year marks 90 years since the end of the First World War,” he said. “I'm 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.”

Dairy Council Director Dr Judith Bryans added: “The cheesemakers are always generous, and each year we receive a wonderful selection of British cheeses for the veterans. This year, they've outdone themselves by donating more than 250kg of cheese, which I am certain that the veterans will enjoy feasting on throughout the Christmas season and into the New Year."