Edinburgh kids create BSL video of You'll Never Walk Alone to honour NHS

Ruairi and Eilidh created the video with their cousins.
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An Edinburgh family has created a video of themselves signing the lyrics to You’ll Never Walk Alone in BSL as a tribute to NHS workers.

The clip featuring Ruairi, 8, and Eilidh, 4, Holmes along with several cousins living in Ireland has been shared widely on social media.

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Dad Gavin Holmes, 35, said the Balerno family was inspired by the Sign Along With Us performance on Britain’s Got Talent to begin learning BSL.

Ruairi already knew some of the basics as one of his classmates at Currie Primary School uses BSL to communicate, and was keen to learn more to be able to use with her when school resumes.

The rest of the family started at the beginning, with the alphabet, learning how to say hello and other basics, and soon they decided they wanted to create something more ambitious.

The family decided to combine this with a tribute to the NHS, as mum Claire, 36, is an occupational therapist at Liberton Hospital.

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“We do a clap every week on Thursday and everyone always looks over at us and calls out to Claire,” said Mr Holmes.

The song was chosen as Mr Holmes also plays ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on speakers during every 8pm Clap for Carers.

Ruairi and Eilidh set to work learning the lyrics in BSL during the Easter holiday, and asked cousins Ben; Noah; Molly; Hannah; Cara; Conor; Eoin; Grace and Fionn, ranging in age from eight to 17, to take part as well.

Mr Holmes then edited the finished product together and shared it on social media.

The video has since been shared 7,500 times on Facebook.

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“Claire’s phone would not stop pinging, we’ve had so many messages from people who say they were crying their eyes out,” said Mr Holmes.

“We’ve also heard from people who use sign language, saying that there should be more of this kind of thing.

“I really didn’t expect it to get that kind of response.”

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