The new Military History group started with a visit to the home of the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital. We were taken on a guided tour by Malcolm, a sprightly ex soldier with a dry and, sometimes, mischievous sense of humour.

We learnt about the history of the complex, the damage it sustained in the world wars and a bit about the life of those invited to live in the home for soldiers "broken by age and war”.

Founded by Charles II in 1692 in a complex designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the buildings are fabulous with the chapel used to test some of the features of St Pauls such as acoustics.

In the refectory there is a marvellous fresco depicting Charles II and being heavy on the symbolism.

Prior to our afternoon tour, well over half of us enjoyed visiting the national army museum next door. This does not celebrate war but it does provide a lot of history of the role of the army over many centuries.

Spread over 3 floors, the museum’s galleries feel a bit like a tardis as you go round corner after corner to find more. Some of us only managed to complete one floor before our brains threatened to explode and lunch, in the café, was calling!