WATCH: Black Country trumpet player thanks NHS workers and entertains neighbours
A Black Country musician is delivering a special thanks to NHS workers each week during the Clap for Carers initiative.
Gary Bell, 57, of Stourbridge has been taking to his front door every Thursday evening to play the trumpet.
Recently, he played Somewhere Over the Rainbow and We'll Meet Again, and he aims to follow this up with other songs.
Mr Bell, who works for Sandwell Council, said: "It was just an afterthought really to play the trumpet.
"My neighbours want me to play every Thursday now. I've seen neighbours out [during the initiative] I haven't even spoken to before.
"It is a pity we can't go and talk to them with all the social-distancing going on."
Mr Bell has been playing the trumpet since he was eight. He has played with bands semi-professionally at events such as ballroom dancing.
Other instruments he plays includes the keyboard and bugle.
As musician, it is fitting that Mr Bell's wife is a singer.
The couple usually have gigs to perform at but those events have been halted amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Bell has played the bugle during remembrance events for his employer Sandwell Council.
He has worked for Sandwell Council for 40 years. He currently hold the role of a parks officer.
A video of Mr Bell playing the trumpet during a recent Clap for Carers initiative has been hundreds of time online.
Sandwell Council tweeted: "A lovely rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and We’ll Meet Again during last week's #ClapforCarers by Gary Bell.
"Gary works for the council's parks team - you may recognise him as the bugle player at many of our remembrance events."
