Star Wars actor turned patient finds new £36m hospital is out of this world

11:00am Saturday 30th December 2006

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THE force was with Star Wars actor Ronnie Phillips when he became one of the first patients to be treated at Hampshire's newest hospital.

Ronnie played one of the Ewoks - small furry creatures who live on the moon of Endor - in the 1983 movie Return of the Jedi.

To read more of this story see today's Daily Echo.

Ewoks used spears, slings and hang gliders to help the Rebel Alliance to defeat in the Galactic Empire at the Battle of Endor.

The award-winning film - the final part of the original Star Wars trilogy - was shot at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

Ronnie was living near Elstree when he was offered a part in the movie, which also starred Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Harrison Ford as Han Solo.

At 4ft 6in he was the perfect choice to play a creature who was supposed to be little more than one metre tall.

Today Ronnie, now 94, lives alone at Barton-on-Sea. He suffered a series of falls at his home and was admitted to Lymington Hospital, which was built more than 100 years ago.

Yesterday he was one of 27 patients who were transferred to the £36m Lymington New Forest Hospital on the outskirts of the town.

Ronnie found himself surrounded by state-of-the-art technology that would not have looked out of place in a Star Wars film. "It's marvellous - a wonderful hospital," he said.

"I've no complaints about the NHS. The nurses are very caring and do everything they can to help the patients. Anyone who criticises the health service needs their head examined."