Parliamentary praise for NHS band

The NHS workers who banded together to play a virtual version of The Proclaimers’ song I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) have been praised in the Scottish Parliament for their performance.

Cunninghame South MSP Ruth Maguire lodged a Parliamentary motion congratulating the brass musicians for bringing “some happiness amid the negativity and anxiety over COVID-19”.

The ensemble was led by Eilidh Houston, trombonist with Johnstone Band and a student nurse with NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Colleagues from that health board and also from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Dumfries & Galloway took part in the online performance.

Ms Maguire wrote to Eilidh to let her know of the motion and to enclose a congratulatory certificate which recorded the event in Parliament.

The document, headlined NHS Virtual Band Spreads Joy, notes that “the performance was a resounding success with around 100,000 views on one day”. It added that Parliament “congratulates Eilidh for her innovative idea and wishes everyone involved with this all the best for the future”.

You can see and hear the online NHS band on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1zZUtu_2lc