The Duke meets staff at Salisbury District Hospital. 04/11/04A BEAMING and joking Prince Andrew, Duke of York, had hospital staff and volunteers in stitches when he visited Salisbury on two official engagements last week.

The duke showed his down-to-earth and human side when he met doctors, nurses, administrators and fundraising volunteers at Salisbury District Hospital on Thursday.

And there was more of the same when he later visited award-winning telecommunications company 4Com on the city's Churchfields industrial estate.

The duke was at the hospital to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the League of Friends and to officially open the new cardiac suite, provided with the £1m raised in double-quick time by the Ace of Hearts appeal.

The League of Friends, with its army of volunteers, runs the hospital shop, refreshment trolleys and a newspaper and book service and, over the years, has been a prominent fundraising organisation - supplying the wards with medical equipment and other items.

The friends also donated £25,000 when the hospital charity, Share, launched the Ace of Hearts appeal for the cardiac unit.

The unit has already had its first patients and is expected to be fully operational before Christmas.

The duke was greeted on arrival at the hospital by Salisbury health care trust chairman David Noble, performing his last engagement before retiring after eight years in the role.

The duke later met the chairman of the League of Friends, retired ear, nose and throat consultant George Todd, who introduced him to hospital shop manager Richard Burton and six of the shop volunteers.

The duke, who is patron of the national League of Friends, then went on to meet other members of the Salisbury friends - chatting and joking with them and praising them for the work they do.

Mr Todd said: "Having the duke here to help celebrate our 50th anniversary was very exciting for all of us."

After unveiling a plaque to mark the friends' anniversary and signing the visitors' book, the duke made his way to the new cardiac unit and the recovery room it shares with the endoscopy department.

There were more jokes and informal chatting as he met consultant cardiologist Simon Biggart and members of the cardiac and endoscopy teams.

Senior sister with the coronary care unit Jane Ayre said: "The duke was so charming and interactive. He had a word for everyone and showed a real interest in what we are doing."

The duke, who had arrived at the hospital by helicopter, unveiled another plaque - this time to mark the opening of the cardiac unit, before being taken by car on his visit to 4Com.

During his hospital visit, he also met members of the Share charity team and civic dignitaries, including deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Lord Talbot, High Sheriff of Wiltshire Lieutenant Colonel James Arkell, chairman of Wiltshire county council Allan Peach, chairman of Salisbury district council Patrick Paisey and mayor of the city Jeremy Net