Prison bosses have credited a biweekly radio programme for helping to get prisoners at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow through the pandemic.
Rev Jill Clancy stepped in to take over the Barbed Wireless radio station as Covid-19 struck and strict lockdown protocols banned the inmates from leaving their cells in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus.
Dubbing herself DJ Jolly Jilly, the minister recorded, edited and broadcast an hour long programme - consisting of music, quizzes and Thought for the Day.
Her work has now been praised by the Scottish Prison Service, who say she played a key role in helping prisoners cope during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Notorious 'Bar-L' jail is Scotland's largest prison and during the early months of coronavirus outbreak, all physical visits were curtailed and 1,200 men were confined to their cells.
These restrictions loosened when the vaccination programme was rolled out, but prison bosses said the minister’s radio show was vital to "brightening" up the spirits of prisoners and staff at Barlinnie.
Teresa Medhurst, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, presented the minister with a Meritorious Award in recognition of her positivity and the care she provided to prisoners and staff while the country was gripped by the virus.
Mrs Clancy, who has worked at HMP Barlinnie for five years, said: "It was a difficult, uncertain and unknown time for all the prisoners, management and staff at HMP Barlinnie and I did all that I could to help keep people's spirits up.
"The prison has a radio station called Barbed Wireless run by the prisoners but it was off air during the first lockdown because none of them were allowed out of their cells.
"It was so much fun and I am thrilled that being a presence in the prison helped just a little for all of us to get through a difficult time."
Mrs Clancy is a fan of Johnny Cash who famously played gigs in prisons, notably Folsom State Prison in California, USA at the behest of Rev Floyd Gressett, who preached at a church in Ventura and also carried out outreach work with prisoners.
One of the legendary musician's most famous songs is called Folsom Prison Blues..
Mrs Clancy said: "All the prisoners whom I work with are men and they are somebody's son, father, uncle, brother and they matter.
"It is not about shutting people behind a locked door and forgetting about them."
She added: "It is such a privilege to be able to listen to people's stories and hopefully help them on the next step of their life journey as they leave prison.
"People need to know that they are loved and forgiven and if that gives them the strength to change and never to return to prison, we have done a good job."
