Tenor Jem Sharples finished off two minutes of clapping for carers last night (Thursday) with a rousing tribute to the NHS.

The opera singer, who lives in Queens Drive, Berrylands, and who is part of the award-winning trio Tenors Un Limited, sang You Raise Me Up –a Norwegian-Irish ballad popularised by boy band Westlife in 2005.

Jem, who has shared the stage with the likes of Katherine Jenkins, Sting, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé and Simply Red, as well as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, entertained torch-waving residents with the anthemic Jerusalem the week before.

“Somebody said would Jem mind singing Jerusalem, so they asked me, knowing I’m in a group, so I took them up on the request and it sort of grew from there really, so every week now, while we are in lockdown, the plan is to sing something out on the street,” said Jem who has lived in Queens Drive with his family for 13 years. “There has been a lovely genuine response from the community; we’re all in this together.”

Jem, who had to cut a tour of Wyoming and Cororado short because of the coronavirus crisis (he got the last flight home out of Denver before the US went into lockdown), says next week’s offering may well be The Impossible Dream.

Neighbour and Good Life deliverer Jagie Rai, said: “The singing has been great. Most bring song sheets and join in and we erect some speakers so the street can hear.

“This is the first time I have heard Jem sing. However I know some on the road have been to his events to watch him too.

“We have NHS workers on the road and it’s the least we can do.”

Jagie, who has lived in the street for 10 years, said there was a great community spirit in Queens Drive.

“The road is great. We all advise each other when we go shopping and pick things up for each other during lockdown.

“The kids on the road have drawn rainbows for the older members of the street to post pictures in their windows. We have also called some older people on the street so they have company during the day.

“We do have a street WhatsApp group and are planning to have a street party once this is all over.”

To hear Jem in full voice visit the Tenors Un Limited Facebook page here.