AN army veteran who served for 30 years has now been accepted as a Chelsea Pensioner.

Patrick Mewton, 70, served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for almost 30 years, being made a sergeant, before becoming a Malvern Town councillor in 2000, a position he retired from in July.

In 2019 Mr Mewton lost his wife, so when he caught Covid earlier this year he decided to apply and on August 31, he was officially accepted as a Chelsea Pensioner.

He said: “When I got home from the hospital I didn’t know where I was for about five days, I was totally delirious.

“It was then that I decided to send an application.

“It was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.”

To be eligible to be a Chelsea Pensioner one must fit certain criteria such as being a non-commissioned officer or soldier in the British Army who is at least 65, or of state pension age, and able to financially contribute and live independently.

Mr Mewton has settled in well since moving to the Royal Hospital in August.

He said: “Oh yes, there’s a few characters there but you get that in all parts of the forces.

“It is a great honour especially when you consider there is only 300 pensioners at any one time.”

This week, Mr Mewton has returned to Malvern to join in the Remembrance Day celebrations and lend a helping hand to the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, of which he was one of the first members.

The club was founded by Peter Storry, 83, who served in Cyprus in the 50s, as a response to the area not having a Royal British Legion.

Mr Storry said the group had its first meet up in January 2020 however the pandemic meant they were only able to meet up once more before a lengthy pause.

However, since June the club have been meeting up on the third Saturday of each month at the Foley Arms Hotel, Malvern.

Mr Storry said: “When we started, I thought this is just a room full of strangers, but really they are just friends I haven’t met before.

“The idea is for veterans to come and take off where they left off. To enjoy the banter and camaraderie of the forces again.”