Unlocked Lockdown Podcasts

COVID-19 Reflections is a project launched by Cheshire West and Chester Council to offer spaces and opportunities for residents to think back on their experiences of the past three years.

As part of her commission ‘How Society Changed’ artist, Jayne Lawless has produced a series of conversations on reflections in the form of podcasts starting with Deb’s Story.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The COVID-19 Reflections are an opportunity to take the time to look back and reflect on the pandemic, and even preserve some of our thoughts and experiences for future generations.

“Following on from the Unlocked Lockdown exhibition in Ellesmere Port, Jayne has collaborated with Mick Ord on a selection of stories that capture some of the highs and lows experienced by Ellesmere Port residents. I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in these reflections, you can now hear the first three stories from Deb, Lisa and Tyra.”

Deb Jones lives in the Westminster area of Ellesmere Port. The podcast hears Deb’s story, she rarely left her house during the pandemic. She talks about her neighbour’s puppy Sam, her worries tackling mask wearing and how scary life was.

Deb tells the sad story of Sam’s fate following her neighbour’s death, from being a friendly puppy, after lockdown, Sam now fully grown and known locally as ‘the bear’ became aggressive after not being in contact with people.

But things did get better, as Deb re-discovered her artistic creativity at the Westminster Community Centre. Looking back, she thinks today’s technology probably helped a lot of people through lockdown and how much harder it would have been without the internet and zoom calls.    

Sam’s story was the inspiration behind an illustrated book about the pandemic with the fictional ‘dog called Bear’ as a major character. the book is illustrated by Gill Smith and written by Ginni Manning.

Councillor Lisa Denson talks about the Covid period in the second podcast. As Covid started, Lisa was involved with setting up a foodbank hub, that started home deliveries. Lisa thinks Covid has left a legacy of stronger community spirit.

The third podcast is with Tyra Goodwin. Tyra explains how the foodbank was a lifeline for her family before the pandemic started, where help and advice was available. Following her experiences as a teenager Tyra went on to volunteer at a foodbank herself and has now set up a support group Thrive to Survive.

The podcasts can be heard at: 

https://www.covid19reflections.website/podcasts

The Covid Reflections website also includes details about the Ellesmere Port exhibition, Open Eye gallery exhibition and the six areas of reflection in Castle Park, Frodsham, Grosvenor Park, Chester, Winsford Marina, Stanney Fields Park, Neston, Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, and Marbury Park, in Northwich.

For further details about the project:  

www.covid19reflections.website

Jayne Lawless has been commissioned as Lead Artist for a commission that explored how society changed during lockdown.  Her project includes the Sketch book club, Unlocked Lockdown exhibition, A Dog Called Bear book and illustrations and podcast series.  

Jayne is a socially engaged artist from Liverpool and has worked in communities across Merseyside, Europe and the USA, building relationships and responding with art projects that directly reflect the people and places worked with. She founded Dead Pigeon Gallery in 2017, a project that primarily exists to give opportunities to working class artists and have art exhibitions/events in unusual spaces. She also set up 'North End Sketch Club' a sketch club in 2018 which is a simple and effective way of bringing art into communities that may not ordinarily access art activity, including an ongoing relationship with Fans Supporting Foodbanks as a volunteer and artist. 

Mick Ord is a media relations consultant who produces and presents this Covid Reflections podcast series featuring the fascinating stories of the people of Ellesmere Port about how they experienced lockdown the highs and the lows and the lessons learned.