Panto stars Ashleigh and Pudsey hand over keys to winner of MRI Scanner Appeal raffle

Added: 11 January 2016

The Britain's Got Talent favourites will be handing over the keys of a Peugeot 208 to Paul Forbes – the lucky winner of the Friarage MRI Scanner Appeal raffle.

 

News that Paul had clinched first prize came completely out of the blue and in the form of a cryptic message posted on the noticeboard at work which simply read ‘congratulations Paul – beep beep!’

 

“The charity team and work colleagues had been trying to get hold of me but I’d changed phone contracts so my number was in transit,” he said.

 

“I actually work at the Friarage but was on holiday – it was my gaffer who told me I’d won the car when I went back – I just couldn’t believe it!”

 

Paul, who has worked in the catering department of the Northallerton hospital for the last seven years looking after patients’ dietary needs, bought just one £2 ticket – raffle number 5646!

 

Ironically, he has only recently bought a car…

 

“I haven’t won anything in my life apart from the odd fiver on the lottery so couldn’t believe my luck although it was amusing after I’d recently bought a car,” he added.

 

“I’m genuinely pleased and really appreciative, although I did have a bit of a panic when I couldn’t find my winning ticket – it turned up in my back garden!

 

“I’m extremely supportive of the Friarage – it’s a fantastic hospital and the MRI Scanner Appeal is a brilliant cause – I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who bought tickets.”

 

South Tees Hospitals Charity, in partnership with the Friends of the Friarage, launched the raffle as part of their £2million Scanner Appeal target.

 

The car, provided by Simon Bailes Peugeot in Northallerton, is valued at £12,395 and has multifunction colour touchscreen, air conditioning, 15” alloy wheels, front fog lights and blue tooth.

Simon Bailes, managing director of Simon Bailes Peugeot Northallerton, said:  “The Friarage Hospital is in desperate need of a MRI scanner, so it was our pleasure to support the Friarage scanner appeal. Working with local charities and organisations is a big part of our ethos and the scanner appeal will have huge benefits for people living in and around Northallerton”

The other winning tickets were 1562 (second prize of £200), 3884 (third prize of £150) and 4757 (fourth prize of £100).

 

 

Anyone wanting to support the MRI scanner appeal can donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/FriarageMRIscannerappeal.