HOW THE ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA GAVE LOCAL VETERAN A NEW LEASE ON LIFE

Barbara was inspired by a TV programme about the first intake of female veterans at the hospital

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Barbara, who has been a Chelsea Pensioner since 2011 said it changed her life (Image: Royal Hospital Chelsea)

For Barbara, who has been a Chelsea Pensioner since 2011, Armistice Day is more than a date on the calendar.

It is a deeply personal moment to reflect on generations of service that have shaped both her life and the lives of her family.

Barbara began her civilian career in the NHS as a general nurse, before joining the Army as a psychiatric nurse in 1970. For the next eight and a half years, she worked on psychiatric wards treating discharged soldiers, helping those living with the unseen wounds of conflict.

Her time in the Army left a lasting impression and Barbara fondly remembers the sense of camaraderie and shared purpose which comes from military life.