The Chelsea Pensioners have teamed up with celebrity foodies, including Nick Mason, to launch a fund­raising cookbook. Chelsea Pensioners are in-pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army located in Chelsea, London.

A Salute to Cooking, which is published by Bene Factum, features more than 100 recipes, including Joanna Lumley's sephardic orange cake and London mayor Boris Johnson's cheese on toast. Celebrity chef rivals Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay are also contributing.

All profits will help fund the modernisation of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Famous figures proved easy to persuade to contribute. Bene Factum's Anthony Holden said: "I was able to get photographer Mario Testino and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, but everyone was so keen to support the cause. The Chelsea Pensioners are national treasures."

A Salute to Cooking will be launched on 13th October in hardback, priced £14.99 - a great Christmas gift that helps a worthy cause. Pre-orders (at a discount) can be made through this link to Amazon.co.uk.