Clap for Carers: Applause rings out for possibly final time across Portsmouth area in honour of NHS staff and key workers

For 10 weeks neighbours have shown their support at 8pm every Thursday but many have called for it to be the last time, including Annemarie Plas who started the idea.

Last night residents of Tipton House, Warwick Crescent, in Southsea, flocked to the tower block’s windows to celebrate. One lad in his mother’s arms clapped in support.

For Katrina James, who is a ward manager at Queen Alexandra Hospital caring for patients with Covid-19, hearing the clapping has meant so much.

She said: ‘The clap for the NHS, and all the staff that have been caring for Covid-19 patients at QA, has given us the courage to continue to do our best.

‘Knowing that the city is behind us, supporting the NHS by staying home, has helped us dedicate our time to patients. Each week staff look forward to seeing the clap for carers after a hard day, it brings joy in this time of uncertainty.’

Ten bagpipe players and a drummer from The Rose and Thistle Pipe Band played for staff at the Cosham hospital this evening.

Member Cameron McMurchie from Denmead said: ‘A lot of us have been playing for our neighbours on Thursdays and when I heard this was to be the last official Clap for Carers I wanted it to be special.

‘My mum has been in the QA before with cancer and she can't say enough about them. Everyone in the band has their own story as to why they are grateful for QA so we wanted to show our appreciation.’

Elisha Quade, from Cosham, has been clapping alongside her neighbours every week.

She said: ‘It has been so lovely to see everyone come together for NHS staff and continue to show their support.

‘My neighbours have been clapping and banging saucepans and it has been nice to see more and more join in each week to show their appreciation for frontline workers.’

Mark Matthams, in Purbrook, added: ‘It is so important to show how much NHS staff and key workers mean to everyone and I hope it has given them a boost.’

But the ritual has been criticised by some for becoming ‘politicised’, while others, including NHS staff, have said some people who take part in the clap then wilfully ignore the plea to stay at home.

Founder Annemarie Plas, from Streatham, south London, said: ‘To have the most impact I think it is good to stop it at its peak.

‘For everybody who wants to continue I think they should, but for me I think it's good to see how we can see that positivity delivered to the next level.

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