Salisbury District Hospital's longest serving staff member will attend Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Party today (Saturday, June 4).

Mike Penney has been awarded two tickets to the Platinum Party at the Palace Jubilee Celebration by The Stars Appeal, the NHS charity for the hospital.

Mike has worked at the hospital for more than 43 years. Starting in August 1978 as a catering assistant, Mike then worked as a porter for 27 years before taking on his current role as storeman in 2010.

The Stars Appeal was allocated two tickets for the event due to the Royal Patronage of TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge of its membership organisation, NHS Charities Together. 

Inspired by the Queen’s long service, the Stars Appeal decided to give the tickets to the hospital’s longest serving staff member and a guest, and the charity is also covering the costs of travel and accommodation.

Mike said: “I’m very proud to have worked at the Hospital for so long and it has been great to see so many enhancements in medical care during my time here.

"I am touched to have been recognised by the Stars Appeal for my long service. I’m really looking forward to going to the Palace and enjoying the live music.”

The ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’ is the BBC concert being organised in London as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Some 22,000 guests are being invited to attend the concert, with 10,000 tickets issued by the BBC to winners of the public ballot, and the remaining tickets being offered to representatives of patronages of The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, along with key workers, volunteers, community leaders, members of the military, activists, educators, and young people from around the UK.

Nick Marsden, chairman of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and chairman of the trustees of the Stars Appeal, said: “We are delighted to be able to show our gratitude to Mike for the 43 years he has dedicated to Salisbury Hospital by awarding him these tickets for this very special event and we are grateful to NHS Charities Together for their role in making this possible and their ongoing support.”

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