Roy, 88, finished pedalling the length of Britain on a static bike at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 4 October, raising over £20,000 for two veterans' causes.
Roy, an 88-year-old Chelsea Pensioner, has finished cycling the 1,000 miles between John O’Groats and Land’s End without leaving the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He rode the whole distance on a static bike, mostly under a gazebo at the hospital’s events, and completed the last miles at the Chelsea History Festival on Sunday 4 October.
The ride, which he called Scarlet Wheels, has raised over £20,000 for the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the War Horse Memorial, the hospital says.
“I love a challenge, and taking on the 1,000 miles between John O’ Groats and Land’s End was my biggest fundraising feat yet,” Roy says. “My wife always said I was a bit crazy, and some will say I’m mad for even attempting this at my age, but it was worth it.”
Five events, one bike
The challenge started at the Salon Privé car festival in April, where Roy clocked the first 140 miles. On his JustGiving page, Roy Palmer says he began on 16 April at the Royal Hospital during Salon Privé.
From there the bike went out at each of the summer’s big events in the hospital grounds, according to the hospital:
- the Live at Chelsea concert series, 10 to 14 June
- the Treasure House Fair, 25 to 30 June
- the Longines Global Champions Tour, 7 to 9 August
- the Chelsea History Festival, 1 to 4 October, where he finished
David Richmond CBE, the Royal Hospital’s chief executive, says the public helped carry him over the line. “We were all behind Roy as he took on the final stage of his brilliant challenge to raise funds for the important work that goes on here at the Royal Hospital Chelsea,” he said. “We were incredibly grateful for the public support during the final miles, as he completed his fantastic virtual journey right here at our London home.”
24 years in the Army, then a wing walk
Roy served in the Northamptonshire Regiment and later the Royal Pioneer Corps, 24 years in the British Army in all, before retiring to care for his wife. He moved into the Royal Hospital in 2018.
Since then, the hospital says, he has done a wing walk and two parachute jumps in his scarlet uniform to raise money for the Chelsea Pensioners. The banner he rode under this summer sums it up in his own words: “Full-time Chelsea Pensioner, part-time daredevil!”
He says both causes matter to him for different reasons. “Both causes are very dear [to] my heart. I have lived at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for eight years and have seen the difference it makes in ensuring those who serve are always supported. War Animals have always been important to me too, and the War Horse Memorial is a great cause.”
On JustGiving he wrote: “Over the years, I’ve taken on a range of challenges to raise vital funds for the Royal Hospital Chelsea, including freefall parachute jumps and even a wing walk, and I’m now in the middle of my biggest challenge yet.” He signed off: “I hope that, with your support, Scarlet Wheels can raise vital funds for these two wonderful charities.”
The money
The hospital puts the total at over £20,000 across the summer’s events. Of that, his JustGiving page showed £7,826.14 raised online from 281 supporters, plus £1,687.63 in Gift Aid, when we checked on 6 October 2026. The rest of the hospital’s figure is not broken down in the release; the page is still taking donations.
What it means for you
The ride is over, but the Scarlet Wheels JustGiving page is still open if you want to add to the total for the Royal Hospital and the War Horse Memorial.
The Royal Hospital has been home to retired soldiers of the British Army since 1692, on a 66-acre site off Royal Hospital Road. It runs Pensioner-led tours and events at the Soane Stable Yard, and you can plan a visit on its website. Its autumn exhibition and Remembrance events run in November, and the café is looking for volunteers for four-hour shifts.
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