THREE lucky members of staff from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust walked the red carpet at the European premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Project manager Kofi Quartey, staff nurse Rosie Dicks and Dr Tanuj Lad, a consultant in acute medicine, who all work at Basingstoke hospital, travelled to the Royal Albert Hall for the big event.

Rubbing elbows with stormtroopers, droids and stars of the film, including John Boyega and Kelly-Marie Tran, before being among the first people in Europe to watch the latest instalment of the Star Wars franchise.

The Trust, which runs Basingstoke hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Andover War Memorial Hospital, were invited to send three representatives to the premiere by the Royal Foundation.

The invitation was a thank you to staff for the work done with the Step into Health programme, which helps servicemen and women to find jobs outside of the armed forces, providing work placements, support and advice.

Kofi, who served in the army before joining the NHS, played a vital role in bringing the Step into Health programme to Hampshire Hospitals, while Rosie serves as an army reservist and Dr Lad has offered placements to a number of servicemen and women through the scheme.

Dr Lad said: “It was a fantastic evening and a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the three of us. We all really enjoyed what was an amazing experience and I’d like to say a massive thank you to the Royal Foundation for inviting us along.”