The Laurettes star recalls her Lockdown Live page raising thousands during Covid
DURING lockdown one of Inverclyde's biggest talents stepped in to create a platform to play live music into people's living rooms and raise thousands of pounds to help the local community during the pandemic.
The Laurettes' Lynette Beaton along with her band mate Lauren O'Donoghue set up Inverclyde Lockdown Live on Facebook to lift spirits as well as showcasing the extraordinary depth of local talent.
But they also went on to become a lifeline for so many, helping support staff and patients at Inverclyde Royal as well as Covid community responses.
In a short space of time they managed to secure phones and tablets to help patients keep in touch with loved ones, as well as sourcing PPE equipment for frontline workers.
The Laurettes Lauren O'Donoghue, left, Lynette Beaton and Lesley McLaren (Image: George Munro) As lockdown wore on Lynette and other music friends became instrumental in helping the isolated and lonely pull through, going out on to the streets and outside care homes to put smiles on faces during a desperate time.
But speaking to the Tele five years on Lynette, who is now headlining festivals and travelling the world with Laurettes, recalls the shock, deaths, devastation and resilience of the Inverclyde community.
Lynette, a former Notre Dame High music teacher, said: "I was absolutely terrified when the country went into lockdown.
"Everything just stopped, singing and music was banned completely and that was my whole life.
"I had just quit my job as a secondary school teacher two weeks before, so that I could concentrate on Prominence Academy of Performing Arts and Boogie Bugs. Suddenly all my plans came to a stop.
"The Laurettes were doing well and then everything was taken away all of a sudden. I was also living on my own.
"I thought if I am going to survive this I have to do something to get through it."
Lauren O'Donoghue (Image: George Munro)
So Lynette and Laurettes bandmate Lauren O'Donoghue set up Facebook page Inverclyde Lockdown Live, bringing musicians together across the area.
Thousands of people were soon tuning in to their Saturday night sofa sessions, with games, activities and live music.
Mourners turn out to pay respects to Gerry McHugh (Image: George Munro) But the death of one of her colleagues, Notre Dame High maths teacher Gerry McHugh, from Covid-19 was a watershed moment for all those who loved him within the school and the wider community.
Gerry McHugh (Image: George Munro)
Lynette said: "When Gerry McHugh died it left us feeling like we really wanted to do something, to help. His death was a huge loss to us all and it is still felt today.
"He touched so many lives. Everyone was in a state of shock.
"Yes some of us couldn't work or we couldn't see our family and friends, but people were losing their lives."
So at the same time as putting on live music Lynette began reaching out to staff at Inverclyde Royal to find out what they needed.
Soon the Lock Down Live were sending vital cordless phones, iPads and other vital necessities to Inverclyde Royal as well as helping the likes of Belville Community Garden's food parcels scheme.
(Image: George Munro) Lynette, who turned 30 during lockdown, added: "I remember speaking to staff at the time. They said that thanks to the cordless phones patients were able to make their last phone calls to loved ones at home.
"It is heart-breaking to think back to that."
In a short time the audience helped raise £10,000 to help with the Covid response.
Lynette said: "I am very proud to have been part of the Lockdown Live, it made such a massive different and it helped us as well. I made friends for life."
At the time Lynette teamed up with her neighbour Altered Images drummer Lesley McLaren and they took to performing in the streets on Thursday nights when neighbours came out to clap NHS staff. Now Lesley sometimes plays with The Laurettes.
The Laurettes (Image: The Laurettes)
In the last five years The Laurettes have enjoyed an incredible success after connecting with people during the pandemic.
Lynette added: "I think after lock down we just wanted to get out there and live our life, after having it all taken away from us for so long.
"The pandemic taught us to live life to the full and we have never stopped since."
This story is part of a series marking the UK's Day of Reflection 2025, five years on from the Covid-19 pandemic.
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