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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Hilary Mitchell

"It's been overwhelming!" West Lothian singing sensation Lynne Size on her uplifting viral video

Lynne Size from West Calder has been singing for 30 years, and has performed to some large crowds in her time, like festivals such as Livi AID Live run by Marie Curie, as well as charitable gigs for Glasgow homelessness charity Lights on at G1.

However, she never before dreamed that one day she would perform to over a million people. But that's exactly what happened this weekend, when her cover version of 'Run' by Snow Patrol went massively viral after being streamed by a neighbour on Facebook on Saturday 21 March.

Commenters have taken to social media in droves to demand she's given a record contract, or that fellow West Lothian resident Lewis Capaldi duets with her.

Box manufacturing worker Lynne had some gigs cancelled, so decided to put on an outdoor show for her friends and neighbours in West Lothian instead, using a PA in her garden.

Her inspiring vocals and the message of hope championed by the song led to it being shared thousands of times, which she told Edinburgh Live has been both wonderful and - at times - overwhelming.

Viral sensation Lynne has been a regular fixture in local pubs, clubs and fundraising events for years (Lynne Size / Gareth Norton)

"I've been proposed to twice so far."

She said: "I've had over 2500 private messages from all over the world since it went viral. People have been contacting me from Canada, America and New Zealand.

"They were really emotional too, some of them brought me close to tears by saying how much it lifted their spirits, and how that one particular song touched something inside them. People have said that they're stuck in and lonely and watching my videos has really broken up their day.

"It was supposed to just be a bit of fun with the neighbours: let's just have a singsong and have a bit of fun and it's just exploded.

Lynne has been a familiar face at local events and club nights for almost 30 years (Lynne Size)

"I had to turn my phone off at 10pm last night because I couldn't keep up with all of the messages. I was trying to reply to them at first, now I barely have time to read them all.

"I've been proposed to twice so far. Some people have even asked me for money! I'm not sure why they think I suddenly have money just because my video went viral."

Lynne has always been kind-hearted and has spent much of the 30 years as a singer helping with charitable benefits, festivals and gigs to help others in and around the Lothians and Glasgow.

She said: "I've been doing this for 30 years, I've been involved in various charities. For the last three years I've been part of Livi Aid Live for (cancer charity) Marie Curie, this weekend I was meant to be doing a show for Alzheimer's, but it was cancelled.

"I also do some work with Lights on at G1, a homelessness charity in Glasgow. It's a service for lonely and vulnerable adults, there are advisors there, people help them fill out forms etc. I started singing 'Run' every time I went there and it definitely gave them a sense of hope."

Selfless Lynne says that she's being repeatedly asked when she plans to do her garden show again, and has pencilled in this coming Friday at 5pm "because she finishes work at 3 that day."

She added: "It's like we've woken up in a parallel universe at the moment. It seems like the world's been scripted by a five year old, but if (what I'm doing) is continuing to make people happy, then I'm definitely going to keep on doing it."

For more positive stories about Lothians heroes like Lynne, check out our good news liveblog.

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