MAN HADN'T walked on the moon and Concorde has only just taken off when Mike Tiller took up his post at Poole Hospital.

Fifty years later he proudly received his long service award, celebrating a half-century of dedication to the people of Poole as a treatment planning dosimetrist in the hospital’s radiotherapy department.

Mike was one of a group of treasured staff who received Long Service awards. The annual event recognises employees who have given 25, 40 – and for the first time this year – 50 years of service.

The staff who were present at the ceremony had a combined 1,253 years of service between them.

A total of 40 staff were given an award for 25 years of service while four celebrated 40 years and the recipients were from a wide-range of clinical and non-clinical roles including doctors, nurses and midwives.

The best represented department was the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, with five staff claiming awards.

This year’s event had an increased significance as the hospital is celebrating 50 years since the current site was built.

David Moss, Chairman of Poole Hospital and Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals, David Moss said: "Together these staff must have looked after hundreds of thousands of patients so it’s a real honour to be able to celebrate their decades of dedicated service.

“It’s critical that we have individuals with their experience at the hospital as they know our services inside out.They have been, and remain, vital members of staff.”

After the awards presentation, attendees had the chance to share stories over an afternoon tea while a presentation of images of the hospital and staff from the past played.