A LANDFORD farm has donated cheese to Royal Hospital Chelsea as part of a centuries-old tradition.

Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers has been involved in the annual donation for the last 12 years and this year saw more than 330kg of British cheese dished out to retired soldiers.

Business owner Mike Smales, 74, visited the London hospital on Wednesday, December 6, to donate a 5kg Winchester wheel and a 3kg Stoney Cross.

Donating cheese to in-pensioners started more than 320 years ago in 1692 and cheesemakers have continued the tradition ever since.

The donation process was organised into a ceremony of celebration and gratitude to the Chelsea pensioners 64 years ago and it is now run by Dairy UK.

Chelsea Pensioner Norman Bareham, who served in the Coldstream Guards – the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army - was tasked with cutting the Ceremonial Cheese, a magnificent 24kg Montgomery Cheddar donated by J.A & E Montgomery, at the event. 

Salisbury Journal: More than 330kg of cheese was donated this year.More than 330kg of cheese was donated this year. (Image: Dairy UK)

Mr Smales said although 330kg is a lot of cheese, "nothing goes to waste" as the 400 pensioners eat some after their supper every night during the winter.

"We do have a charitable remit here so we do make quite a few charitable donations. It's giving back a little bit to the military personnel who contributed to the country's security," he added.

Mr Smales has been milking cows at Lyburn Farmhouse twice a day since 1952 and started the cheesemaking arm of the family business in 1999 which now produces between two and three tonnes of cheese each week.

Around 50 per cent of the cheese is distributed locally by Mr Smales while the rest is either wholesaled across England or exported.

Paul Vernon, chairman of Dairy UK said: “We are very grateful to the cheesemakers from across the UK for their generous donations and their ongoing commitment to celebrating the men and women of this great British institution. 

"This annual donation is a great tradition of paying tribute to the courage and contribution of our war veterans and we at Dairy UK are proud to play a part in this historic event.”