SAY hello to Ipswich Hospital security officer Amrit Subba.Or if you don't fancy hello, try one of the other SIX languages he speaks.

SAY hello to Ipswich Hospital security officer Amrit Subba.

Or if you don't fancy hello, try one of the other SIX languages he speaks.

The multi-lingual employee can often be heard putting his skills to use at the hospital, going above the call of duty by helping out as a translator.

He started work with the OCS security team last year after becoming a resident of the UK thanks to his 19 years of service as a British Army Ghurka.

The 48-year-old, who proudly wears a HM Armed Forces Veteran badge on his suit, said: “Primarily, my work means I'm responsible for safety of patients, visitors and staff and security of the site.

“But every now and again I will be asked to interpret to help out. It's not in my job description but I'm happy to help. I give directions, talk to relatives or help with patients.

“My job takes me everywhere in the hospital - from wards to clinics and from car parks to different departments, so I meet a lot of people.

“I'm losing my grip on two or three of the languages because I don't get enough practise, but now I'm also picking up an eighth language, Spanish.”

Mr Subba's job also involves overseeing car parking, securing the hospital site and responding to alarms and security breaches.

After retiring as a Ghurka, Mr Subba worked in recruitment with the Ministry of Defence in Kathmandu - the capital of Nepal. He was there for five years before a change in British Home Office rules enabled him to come and work in England on a resettlement visa in 2005.

He had served worldwide as a Ghurka, including Canada, Germany, Singapore, Brunei, the UK, Hong Kong and Berlize.

He now lives in Britannia Road with his wife Milan, whose name means 'to unite', and his 14-year-old son Uppahar, 'God's present'. His youngest son Swikar, 'to accept', lives in Nepal and will move to Ipswich after he has completed primary school.

Mr Subba, whose first name means 'holy water' said: “I enjoy meeting people from different cultures.

“Ipswich Hospital is large and diverse and I enjoy talking to people of different nationalities.”

Mr Subba was featured in the Evening Star when he one the Support Star of the Year award at the Hospital Staff awards in April.

The award was for an outstanding member of staff working in support services (not clinical).

His nomination read: “Amrit is applauded by colleagues throughout the hospital for being a true star. He is modest, unassuming, hard working and cheerful at all times.

“He is a great asset working in a multi-cultural hospital and helps both patients and staff.”

N Do you know someone at the hospital with an interesting story? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

N Welcome to Ipswich Hospital - English

N Ipswich Hospital Ma Swagat Cha - Nepaly

N Swagatam Ipswich Hospital Me - Hindi

N Swagatam Apnar Ipswich Hospital - Bengali

N Ni Law Ipswich Hospital - Cantonese

N Salamat Ka Ipswich Hospital - Basic Malaya

N Katna Fere Ipswich Hospital - Limbu, a Nepalese dialect