Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Monklands applauds its health heroes
Communities across Airdrie and Coatbridge came together to join in a rousing and emotional round of applause for the NHS frontline workers leading the battle against coronavirus.
Streets all over Monklands reverberated to the sounds of clapping, cheering and even fireworks and bagpipes as part of the UK-wide show of support for healthcare staff supporting patients who are battling Covid-19.
Dozens of readers shared videos of their neighbourhoods on the Advertiser’s Facebook page; and now organisers of the nationwide movement hope to see the same thing take place again at 8pm tomorrow to “say thanks to all who take care of us [and] keep our world going”.
Eight-year-old Lucy Higgins, of Coatbridge, was among many youngsters who made posters to show their gratitude to healthcare staff; as did Rudy Wood, nine of Glenmavis.
Fee Lawrie Hyslop said of her street in Airdrie: “Most of the neighbours were out to applaud these amazing heroes in this crazy time,”and Sharon Neil told of being“out clapping and cheering especially for our nurses next door who work on the front line – we applauded them and everyone else”.
Airdrie resident Stacey Brogan said her street had an“amazing response – clapping, fireworks and whistling for our NHS, carers, support and key workers,”while Lynsey Johnston of Glenmavis described the applause as “actually quite emotional”.
Gayle Burns Fleming said of her home area of Kirkwood:“It brought a lump to my throat to see people come together like that. Coatbridge is our wee town, you can’t say we don’t care – same for Airdrie too.”
Just some of the many areas shared by readers on the Advertiser Facebook page included Blairhill, Cairnhill, Chapelhall, Clarkston, Kirkwood, Petersburn, Plains, Shawhead, the Strawberry Fields estate and Whifflet.
The tribute was appreciated by hardworking medics, with Fiona Geddes posting:“I had just finished a 12-hour shift and when I drove up my street in Rawyards, lots of the neighbours were out in force clapping – I was very proud of everyone taking the time to do this.”
Natalie Spittal said:“I was out at work as a home support worker and it was very emotional, clapping along and listening to the support from the lovely people of Airdrie.”
Bernard Walsh’s showed residents in Craigneuk applauding, cheering, whistling and banging on pots and pans to join in, and said he is“proud to be the fiance of a staff nurse”.
Organisers now hope to see another round of applause tomorrow for all essential workers, calling them “everyone that is helping our world to keep turning – all who are out so we can stay in.”