Colin Thackery

When Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery starts to sing, there’s barely a dry eye in the house. Performing on Britain’s Got Talent last year in his iconic Scarlet, with a row of medals across his chest, he mesmerised the audience as he lifted his voice in memory of his beloved wife Joan. When he left the stage, he was told that even the technicians were crying. He captured the nation’s heart and won himself a place in the history books as the Show’s oldest-ever winner.

We were cheering him on at War Horse Memorial as we had met him at the Royal Artillery Assembly in Blackpool in May last year when we were invited to speak to the delegates about our work.

Colin was born in March 1930 and is a Korean War veteran. He performed on an amateur basis throughout his life. As a boy he sang in the church choir. In the Army he took part in concerts on his troop ship on the way to Korea and, once there, was recruited to entertain the troops during a lull in the fighting. He also sang in a forces club when posted in Hong Kong. After retiring from the Army he joined a local operatic society.

Now a Chelsea Pensioner he lives in the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where he moved after the death of his wife 2016 after 66 years of marriage. Thackery served in the Royal Artillery and saw service in Malaya and the Korean War. His medals represent this service: the General Service Medal with clasp Malaya; the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal.

In the months that followed Joan’s death, music helped Colin to cope: “Without music, I don’t know what would have happened,” he said. We are honoured when Colin performed at our Anniversary Ball at Ascot Racecourse last year and at our two concerts broadcast on YouTube, to remember animals of war and animals in need. We are proud that Colin is one of our celebrity ambassadors, supporting our partnership with the Royal Artillery Association.

Colin’s CD, Love Changes Everything, has been released by Decca Records.