12-year-old Eastbourne boy’s weekly salute for the NHS

Each Thursday evening just before 8pm, Alfie Sargeant polishes his cap badge, blackens his boots, and smooths out the creases in his battle fatigues.

The youngster then joins his family outside, stands to attention, and gives his own personal salute of honour to all the health heroes on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis.

His mum Kirstie said, “We are so proud of him. He decided to do it himself, he’s really proud to be in the cadets.

“He just did the research all himself and waited for his 12th birthday to sign up. He missed getting dressed up and thought he would join in with that as well.”

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Alfie, who is with the 10 Eastbourne Detachment, dreams of joining the army when he grows up.

Kirstie, who is a senior nursery nurse, says the whole Kingsmere Estate where the family lives has embraced the weekly Clap for the NHS event.

She said, “The first couple of weeks there was only a few of us that went out to clap. But the last two weeks it’s been very loud.

“We were out with saucepans, people were playing music from their cars, the whole estate just erupts.”

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