A vocal coach who has helped some of the leading lights of the music industry returned to the north-east yesterday – to officially open her auntie’s revamped care home.
Yvie Burnett has worked with some of the biggest names in the business in her roles on major shows like X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice.
It means she regularly rubs shoulders with the likes of Susan Boyle, Alexandra Burke and Shayne Ward.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
Recently the former Ellon Academy pupil, who grew up in Methlick, has been on tour with Sam Smith and filming alongside Emeli Sande for her BBC series Street Symphony.
But yesterday, she swapped the bright lights for Turriff where she cut the ribbon following the refurbishment of Abbeyfield House.
The lounge and dining space have been redecorated and fitted with new carpets and furniture.
Ms Burnett was joined by her 95-year-old aunt Margaret Spence, one of the nine residents at the facility and her sister Agnes Lamb.
She said: “I come to Turriff a lot because I have two aunties who live here.
“My auntie Margaret has been in Abbeyfield for quite a while and they completely refurbished it.
“They asked me to come along to officially open it.
“I come here all the time anyway so it means more to me that just being a place I have turned up at.”
Mrs Spence said she was a fan of the upgrade. She said: “Every they have done is fine.”
Ms Burnett lives near London but tries to come back to Aberdeenshire every six weeks to see her family.
She revealed she is always trying to convince musicians to make sure they consider coming to the region while on tour.
Ms Burnett said: “We’ll be having more showbiz up here when P&J Live opens .
“Hopefully a lot of these artists I work with will be coming up and any time I work with an artist I am always trying to get them to Aberdeen.”
Carole Foreman, area manager for Abbeyfield, said all of the residents in Turriff were given the opportunity to have their say on the final design.
She said: “We had the residents involved in the changes and they were given the chance to look at colour schemes and the fabrics.”
