Neighbours in two Richmond streets joined forces last weekend to put on a very special thank you to the NHS to mark the organisation's 72nd anniversary.

Musician Stuart Marsden, 48, led the residents of Gordon Avenue and Ailsa Avenue in a rousing doorstep version of the Beatles' 'All You Need is Love' with lyrics rewritten for the occasion.

Talented musicians of all ages from both streets turned out, including Max Kenworthy, 10, on drums and Freya Mcloughlin, 11, on violin.

The cellist, 70-year-old former teacher Anne Hutchinson, was in West Middlesex Hospital seriously ill with Covid-19 for two weeks in March.

"I'm so grateful to be here, and this is why I am saying 'thank you' to the wonderful NHS," she said.

Stuart had his own reason to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the NHS.

"My sister, Leah, is a psychiatric nurse based in Lancashire and she's been working all through lockdown with the most vulnerable young people who are really on the edge.

"We've been doing Clap for Carers in the street every week. I got my keyboard out on the ironing board in the front garden and every week more people joined in. Bruce who plays the trumpet turned up, and his son Max who plays the drums. Then there's little Eva who plays the ukelele.

"My sister Leah has been working round the clock, doing 14-hour shifts.

"Her neighbours have been leaving things like a bunch of flowers or a bottle of wine, but because of the long hours she has missed all the big claps.

"But one of our neighbours has been filming it and we've been sending the films to her. I played 'Somewhere over the rainbow' for her, and when she saw it for the first time, she cried."

All They Give is Love!

Neighbour Paul Fuller, 64, rewrote the lyrics for the special performance.

The retired brewery worker has been writing poetry for friends and family for birthdays and other occasions over the years, and when Clap for Carers started up in his street, he turned his talents to rewriting the words of popular songs so they fitted the event.

"It went down well with the neighbours on the Thursday night clap for NHS workers and key workers," he said. "So for our rendition for the 72nd birthday of the NHS I have altered the lyrics to the Beatles' song 'All you need is love' "

Paul's rewritten lyrics read: 'Weeks we've been out to clap and wave; NHS is the one that must be saved; there's nothing we can't do; but to learn how to toe the line. It's easy.'

And the rewritten chorus about NHS workers is: 'All they give is love; Love is all they give.'

Our way of thanking the wonderful NHS

For Stuart, there was added motivation to make sure this was a memorable occasion - the NHS anniversary on Sunday, July 5 was also his sister's birthday.

So the neighbours followed the Beatles' song with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday', with Leah at home in Lancashire watching the proceedings on Zoom.

"If times were normal Leah should have been down here to celebrate so at the end of it we sang happy birthday to her. I love her, respect her, look up to her. She's my big sister."

He added: "If not for the NHS I would be dead twice over. The people who have treated me have done it with respect and dignity, with intelligence, kindness and compassion.

"The clap for carers has boosted Leah. Not her wallet but her heart. This is our thanks from the two streets to Leah and the wonderful NHS."

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