By Britain’s Got Talent winner (and Chelsea Pensioner) Colin Thackery

Chelsea Pensioner Colin, 89, joined his local operatic society in Norwich after retiring from Army life and went on to become the oldest winner of Britain’s Got Talent

7am I wake up naturally and say good morning to Joan, my late wife, who died in 2016. I moved into the Royal Hospital in 2017. You must be over 65, receiving a military pension and single in order to qualify. I have a bedroom, study and wet room. I shower and always use Old Spice aftershave, after discovering it 60 years ago while serving with the Royal Artillery regiment in Yorkshire. I have an Alexa and tell her what I want to listen to. I love music, everything from Katherine Jenkins to Frank Sinatra. 7.30am If I’m going to breakfast in the Great Hall or doing anything official, I wear uniform. Otherwise, I’ll put on civilian clothes, an M&S shirt, trousers and a pullover. I wear cravats quite a lot. I usually make a drink called Annie’s brew, a recipe from my singing coach – ginger, lemon, honey and camomile tea. 8am I have a full English breakfast and chat to chums. Then I might rehearse a song in the band room. I have always sung and was challenged to go on Britain’s Got

Talent by my friend. I get recognised [in the street], especially when

I’m in uniform, but I don’t mind a bit. 12 noon I might have a bowl of soup or a baked potato in the café. Loads of us know each other as most have been living here for around five years. I’ve been to a lot of different places [with the Army]; I went to Korea in 1950 – war is not very nice. 1pm I go to catch up with my daughter, Dawn, 66, a textile teacher in north London. I’ve got two grown-up granddaughters, Ashley, 30, and Alice, 27. 7pm My son-in-law, Wajdi, is Lebanese and makes a great

chicken korma. I’ll have some sauvignon blanc with dinner. 8pm We might watch TV. My daughter and I are very fond of Silent Witness. I had the very good fortune to appear at Salisbury Cathedral, where Emilia Fox introduced me on stage. She’s a lovely lady.

9pm Sometimes I stay with Dawn, but if not I’ll get the train and bus back; it takes me almost an hour. At Chelsea we have our own bar, with people entertaining us on a Saturday night. 10pm I read every night for half an hour in bed. I use a Kindle as I can enhance the font size. I sleep in a single bed, and can I confess I don’t wear pyjamas?

Tickets to Colin’s 90th-birthday concert at Cadogan Hall, London SW1, on 9 March are available from gigsandtours.com

I’M CURRENTLY READING… The Irish Princess by Elizabeth Chadwick – about a feisty young woman. £20, Sphere

I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT… My family photographs. I have several albums and a load on my phone. My favourite is of Joan at our son’s wedding where she’s wearing a red dress and a fascinator.

MY FAVOURITE RECENT PURCHASE IS… A new HP laptop – I use it for watching Youtube. I’m particularly fond of marching bands.