Jesse Pearce, 81, of East Road, is a member of Bridlington's Royal British Legion and applied to become a Chelsea Pensioner earlier this year.

Jesse served in the Armed Forces for 24 and a half years, rising to the rank of Railway Warrant Officer Class One in the Royal Engineers, which is the highest rank a non-commissioned officer could reach.

"I am excited because it will be a new life for me, I was entitled to become a Chelsea Pensioner as I had served more than 12 years in the Army," said Jesse, who has been living alone since his wife died 3 years ago.

"It is very informal, I went to visit the Chelsea Hospital to see if I liked it and if they liked me, and I found it to be very enjoyable. Everybody has something in common and speaks to each other, and we all sit together in the Great Hall at meal times and the food is of hotel standard."

In his time in the Forces, Jesse served in Greece, Egypt and Palestine, and has nothing but 'pleasant memories' of his service.

He was also an accomplished Rifleman, and competed at Armed Forces shooting competitions in the 1960s at Bisley in Surrey, shooting Rifles and Sub-Machine Guns.

There will be at least one familiar face when Jesse arrives in Chelsea.

"One man came up to me and introduced himself when I visited, and it turns out I'd once had him as a Sergeant," said Jesse.

In-pensioners are permitted to wear normal clothing when they travel, but in the Chelsea Hospital Jesse will wear a blue uniform. If he travels further from the Hospital, he would wear a distinctive scarlet coat, which would also be worn for ceremonial occasions.

After leaving the armed forces in 1971, Jesse moved to Bridlington and became a County Court Bailiff, becoming well known in the town during his 17 years in the job.

Upon retirement, Jesse became a member of the Civil Service Retire-ment Fellowship, serving as regional and branch chairman, and also as secretary and treasurer of the group.

Jesse was given a framed picture of a seaside scene by local Solicitors who worked with him throughout his time as a bailiff, to help him remember Bridlington. He was also given a plaque by Bridlington's Royal British Legion, of which he has been a member for many years.

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