Clap For Our Carers: Residents across the Portsmouth region mark the seventh weeks of applauding healthcare workers

The campaign, which was launched on Thursday March 26, intends to show the nation’s appreciation for the doctors, nurses, consultants, carers, cleaners and porters for their role in the ongoing fight against Covid-19.

The nationwide applause takes place at 8pm every Thursday.

More than a dozen residents at Maritime House, sheltered accommodation in Northern Parade, Hilsea, lined the street to applaud tonight to show their appreciation for frontline workers – including the staff at the accommodation.

Danielle Lowry, a care assistant at the 80-bed accommodation, said: ‘We have taken part every week.

‘All the residents come out with pots and pans to make some noise.

‘And we’ve had donations of chocolates and flowers – it makes a huge difference.

‘I have been doing this work for ten years, and we’ve never seen anything like this.

‘It would be nice for this to carry on after the crisis.’

75-year-old Lynn Buck, who has lived in the home since it opened five years ago, said it was important to remember the weekly tradition isn’t just for NHS workers.

She said: ‘It’s also for our carers, and the food delivery drivers, and taxi drivers – people still working who are easily forgotten.’

Residents and carers were joined by dozens of residents along Northern Parade, with the sound of ships’ horns from the port adding to the huge outpouring of appreciation.

An awareness of the risks facing frontline workers and residents remains ever present among those at Maritime House, according to Danielle.

She said: ‘We had one resident go into hospital and catch the coronavirus – they didn’t come out. That was about three weeks ago.

‘A lot of the residents are scared.’

At Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, a crew from Cosham Fire Station stood outside the hospital and applauded NHS staff who continue to battle the pandemic.

In Paulsgrove, five-year-old Vegas and three-year-old Leo went to their front door with mum Katherine Edwards to show their appreciation with some home made musical shakers filled with rice and pasta.

Katherine said: ‘Vegas is aware that there are a lot of poorly people who need help at the moment – and Leo loves the police and fire fighters and now he claps whenever he sees them.’

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