THERE were emotional scenes at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital as staff and members of the public took part in the final Clap for Carers event.

Yesterday (Thursday, May 28) saw the official movement come a close, but not before a convoy of Royal Mail vans made a special trip up Romsey Road not only show appreciation to the NHS but other key workers who have kept the country going during the coronavirus pandemic.

As the clock struck 8pm, 34 vans from the Winchester delivery office drove past the front of the hospital site, beeping their horns and flashing lights.

Organiser Stewart Hardie said the display took four days to organise, with all those involved giving up their free time to take part.

“They had expressed an opinion that they had been working through all this so couldn’t show appreciation to the NHS, and we had seen the convoy in other places around the country,” Stewart said.

Speaking about the convoy, he said: “It was quite emotional and we got quite a buzz out of it. People were still out clapping on the way back to the office, the tooting of horns and flashing of lights didn’t stop at the hospital.”

Stewart who has been a postie for 30 years said that he had never seen anything like it before.

Also marking the momentous occasion was Muriele from Joie de Vivre Music who sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow outside the front doors of the hospital.