Cornwall is encouraged to show its support for the NHS tonight with mass singing. 

Cornwall Sings for the NHS comes a week after the Clap For Our Carers movement, which saw crowds of people come out of their homes last week at 8pm to applaud health workers. 

Now choir leader Emma Mansfield is calling on all Cornish residents to come together to celebrate the NHS with a simple song she has created.

Emma was contacted on Facebook by local electrician Ian Holding with the idea, who suggested using the well-known and easy melody of Hey Jude.

Ian was inspired by the Clap for Our Carers event in support of the NHS last Thursday and wanted to build on this.

Video: Emma Mansfield

Ian said: “We live overlooking the valley of Lostwithiel and last Thursday was just a stunning display of support with our whole community clapping, shouting and whooping their gratefulness for the nurses, doctors and all their teams, and support workers, right on the frontline.

"This is like going to war where people chose to go, this is something that everyone’s got to pull together around. Our great nation has in dark times of past been protected by our brave service men and women both at home and abroad, however this time our lovely nurses and doctors and all NHS staff have in effect become ‘our army’, armed not with weapons, or artillery, but with knowledge, commitment and a whole lot of love!

"We shall forever be in their debt.”

Choirmaster Emma has created fitting words and a Cornish backdrop to a Vimeo video, which she says everyone can use to prepare ahead of the event 'Cornwall Sings for the NHS' tonight (Thursday April 2) at 8pm. Communities across Cornwall are invited to take part in the tribute.

Emma said: “It was Ian’s idea to get the town singing the ‘la’ parts from Hey Jude – they really do get everyone going and I wanted to add a bit more meaning to it.

"Everyone knows that part of the song and it is really easy to pick up so everyone can get involved – young and old, and all can sing as hard, or as lightly as they feel comfortable.

“We have a wonderful community of singers right across Cornwall, with such a high number of community choirs, and male voice choirs. It’s a huge part of our Cornish society, and our culture, and we form an amazing network of singers right across this land.

"This is all about us using what we can to join together, whilst we are forced apart, making sure as many of our local NHS and frontline legends hear and see our heartfelt support for all they are doing now, and for all they are always doing for us all.”

Emma will be setting up her PA system at her flat in Lostwithiel, but, she says, if people simply all sing together, technology won’t be needed.

She is calling on people to video and share their Cornwall Sings for the NHS experience using the hashtags #clapforourcarers and #cornwallsingsfortheNHS.