A WELL known figure from the past has been visited by Ludlow MP Philip Dunne.

The MP visited the Royal Chelsea Hospital to attend the Founder’s Day parade at the invitation of his former constituent Adrian Coles, who is now an In Pensioner at Chelsea.

Founder’s Day marks the founding of the Royal Hospital by King Charles II, and has taken place almost every year since 1681.

Philip Dunne and Adrian Coles, with his late wife Pam who was also a councillor, had served together for several years on the then South Shropshire District Council.

Mr Coles had also been a member of Shropshire County Council.

He served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from 1948 to 1956 and the Royal Army Ordinance Corps from 1956 to 1973. He was also a Territorial Army major.

“I was delighted to have been invited to attend Founder’s Day at the Royal Chelsea Hospital,” said Mr Dunne.

“Chelsea Pensioners have all served their country with pride and have some truly amazing stories to tell."

The French Ambassador awarded the Legion d'Honneur? to those surviving pensioners who had served in the liberation of France.

HRH The Duke of York took the salute from the In Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

“I was very pleased to see my former colleague Adrian Coles settling into his life at the Royal Hospital and proudly representing Shropshire veterans on Founder’s Day,” Mr Dunne added.