I have been making observational documentary films for over 20 years and the Royal Hospital Chelsea set in 66 acres in the heart of Chelsea offered a unique challenge. It had never been filmed before in such depth and like most ordinary members of the public, I imagined the men in scarlet were veterans of the First and Second World Wars, but knew no more. Prompted by a newspaper feature I made contact and went to visit. I discovered 300 in-pensioners living in the solitude and quiet of a Grade I listed, Wren designed building, in an atmosphere of immaculate and orderly calm and run on strict military lines.
With an average age of 83, the oldest pensioner is 101. Every year 50 old soldiers die at the Royal Hospital making room for new men to sign up. They will be expecting the first Falklands veterans from the British Army to join their ranks very soon. It's a unique place, a time warp of historical architecture and home to the most charming and lovely bunch of men, a world away from the busy streets of the Kings Road that runs nearby.
With the Governor, General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, to retire at the end of the year and the Hospital embarking upon the largest programme of change since its inception - an Appeal launched to raise £20 million for a new infirmary, the men's listed accommodation due for a radical overhaul and preparing for the arrival of women to join their ranks - this seemed at once both a timely and timeless piece. BBC Four commissioned an eight-part series and I gathered a small team of colleagues John Douglas, Polly Greetham and Michael Ball to work together on bringing the series to a reality.
In March 2006, we moved into a small, sash-windowed production office in what had been the old Post Office at the Royal Hospital. It would become our home for the next six months and a point of contact for in-pensioners, staff, tea and chat. With the kindness, support, good humour and openness from all at the Royal Hospital, it was a joy to come to work every day. Highlights included the Queen's visit for Founders Day, the Freedom of the Borough parade and Armistice weekend at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph. We filmed men seeing the Hospital for the first time on their trial four-day stay as well as new recruits as they left family, friends and home for a berth at Chelsea. We experienced the highs and the lows, the ceremonial parades, the celebrations and inevitably, at times, the sadness as in-pensioners allowed us to continue filming despite losing friends and comrades along the way. It has been an immense privilege to have met these men and to now share their stories.
Today as soldiers fight on across the globe, this series of films charts the lives, traditions and personal stories behind the scarlet coats of some of our oldest war veterans. In an era of ageing populace and care home horror stories, the Royal Hospital Chelsea offers its own unique solutions to the care of our elderly and could even provide a model for care homes of the future.
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