Home > Life

Millions across the UK clap and cheer NHS workers in emotional tribute

#ClapForOurCarers

Rachel Thompson

on March 27, 2020

Millions across the UK clap and cheer NHS workers in emotional tribute

People at their balconies and windows clap for the NHS in St Johns Wood, London. Credit: Beretta/Sims/Shutterstock

At 8pm on Thursday, millions of people in the UK stood at front doors, on balconies, and in windows to clap for our National Health Service (NHS) workers.

Some cheered, others banged pots and pans, and some beeped horns. It was an emotional, deeply moving tribute for the healthcare workers currently battling the coronavirus pandemic, and putting their lives at risk to do so.

For those taking part, it was an act of community and a way to say thank you to doctors, nurses, paramedics, GPs, pharmacists, and everyone working on the frontline to care for the nation.

You May Also Like

The idea for #ClapForOurCarers came from Annemarie Plas, who lives in London and was inspired by similar tributes in the Netherlands, Spain, and France. In an interview with HuffPost UK, Plas said she hoped the act would give some "strength and boost to whoever needs it."

"I hope that it will give that boost to the frontline people, people that we’ve often taken for granted," she said. "They can see how much we appreciate them. Without them we are no one."

This video by Jack Murphy shows the people of Manchester breaking into applause and cheers across the city.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh, clapping and cheering can be heard in this video taken by Dayna McAlpine.

In London, Sian Elvin captured a video from her window of the sound of applause echoing all across the capital.

Mashable Trend Report

Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Paramedics driving an ambulance through a London street captured the clapping they could hear from the cab. "Thank you!" paramedic Kate yelled out.

Over at Kensington Palace, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis stood in the gardens to clap.

At Windsor Castle — where the Queen is currently in residence — clapping, cheering, trumpets, and the sound of pots and pans being hammered erupted throughout the estate.

The Household Cavalry at Hyde Park Barracks, London, observed the social distancing measures while clapping.

Firefighters at Westminster fire station also stood outside the station and joined in the tribute.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, stood in the middle of his street clapping and cheering on his neighbours as they joined in.

Outside Number 10 Downing Street, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was flanked by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak as they clapped.

Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street Press Secretary, took to the streets with his bagpipes to play a tune in tribute to the NHS workers.

Thank you, NHS.

COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has now infected around 466,000 people worldwide. Over 21,000 people have died.

Topics Health COVID-19

Rachel Thompson

Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.