CORONAVIRUS: Boston and Skegness people urged to join tonight's Clap for Carers

Last Thursday’s Clap for Carers event saw people set off fireworks and sparklers and the co-ordinating sound of clapping filled the air for a couple of minutes at the designated time of 8pm.

It’s a gesture of support that is set to be repeated tonight and every Thursday during the crisis as people search to find a way to show their appreciation.

One Boston staff nurse at Pilgrim said it was very much appreciated.

She said last Thursday: “Thank you to all that clapped tonight. I and thousands of NHS staff appreciate all the support everyone is giving at this hard time. It may be tough but I am proud to work for the NHS right now.”

Alison Marriott, of the SOS Pilgrim - Call for Action appeal is co-ordinating the event in Boston and Skegness.

She says last week staff on duty at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital were cheered to hear the round of applause at 8pm last Thursday.

She said: "It was amazing last week, whole streets turning out at their front doors in some parts of Boston. The applause was heard by people working at the Pilgrim.

"Yes we’re doing the Clap for Carers today and tthere’s an event in the SOS Pilgrim Facebook group.

"We'd like to see people shining torches as well as clapping, as that works well in the villages and isolated houses."

She said the message behind the gesture was the same as last week - get behind our frontline essential workers and stay at home.

Campaigners at the SOS Pilgrim Call for Action group, which was set up to protect services at Boston Pilgrim, have now started a Facebook group dedicated to showing support for health workers.

The SOS Pilgrim - Call to Action 'Messages of thanks' group has been created for peope to send your messages of thanks to NHS staff at all United Lincolnshire Hospitals, either as a video or typed message.

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