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About Steve :: Person
Scotland 2003
Steve went to the Lonach Gathering
and Highland Games
and to see his friend, Billy Connolly, this year, but got very little
publicity about it.Mostly he was just mentioned as
one of the guests.
However, the rumor began that he is looking for a Scottish
hideaway of his own.
The big news this year was the appearance of Sean Connery. |
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The Express
September 9, 2003
LETTERS; Pg. 56
IF YOU'RE GOING TO WEAR A KILT DO IT PROPERLY
Kathleen Matheson, Stonehaven
IT'S great to see the rich and famous wanting to move to Scotland but if
they insist on wearing our national dress could they please try researching
it properly?
Steve Martin (Scottish Daily Express, September 5) looked like he was
wearing a ladies' skirt.
The man's kilt should be worn a half inch above the knee and not down to
meet his socks.
A silly mistake made by many new settlers in our country.
Kathleen Matheson, Stonehaven
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The Express
September 5, 2003
NEWS; Pg. 11
HOLLYWOOD COMEDIAN PLANS TO BUY SCOTTISH ESTATE; HIGHLAND HOME FOR STAR
MARTIN
HOLLYWOOD star Steve Martin has revealed he may move to Scotland to live
next to his close friend Billy Connolly.
The 58-year-old comedian, who enjoys frequent Highland breaks, usually stays
with the Big Yin at his GBP 1million mansion, Candacraig House, in
Aberdeenshire.
He wore a kilt for the Lonach Gathering last month and enjoyed mixing with
the locals.
However, after visiting Scotland for four consecutive summers, the
Texan-born actor has admitted he wants to buy a permanent base.
He said: "I'm going to try my best and get a house too. I love Scotland. A
holiday home would be great."
Martin could easily afford to snap up any multi-million pound Scottish
property for sale.
Among the many estates currently on the market is the 190-acre Arndillay
House in Aberlour, Banffshire, close to Connolly's home.
The GBP 2.4million Georgian mansion has 12 bedrooms and sits in beautiful
parkland on the banks of the River Spey.
But if he chooses somewhere more central the A-listed Middleton Hall, in
Midlothian, may provide the perfect choice.
On the market for GBP 2.25million, the estate on the outskirts of Edinburgh
boasts 70 acres.
Martin's film hits include Father of the Bride, Parenthood, and the recent
Bringing Down the House.
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Sunday Mail
August 24, 2003, Sunday
NEWS; Pg. 3
MONARCHS OF LONACH;
BIG TAM JOINS BIG YIN AT GAMES
Georgina Balston
THE Big Yin made sure his favourite Highland Games were a smash yesterday
- by inviting along Big Tam.
Billy Connolly was joined by Sir Sean Connery - both sporting
salt-and-pepper beards - at the Lonach Games in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire.
Wearing a tartan ribbon on his tanned-coloured corduroy jacket, Connery
was accompanied by his wife Micheline at the star-studded bash.
Also joining in the fun were actress Anna Friel - who starred with
Connolly in the forthcoming adventure film Timeline, and her actor
boyfriend David Thewlis.
Travis singer Fran Healy, who was dressed in tartan, was there with the
rest of his band. Asked which tartan he had on, he laughed: "No idea... as
long as it's not Rangers."
Fran and Connolly, who are both keen Celtic fans, missed their side's
lunchtime victory over Partick Thistle on TV.
When told that the game kicked off early, Billy said: "Oh no! That means
we have gone and missed the whole damned thing." Other big names at the
games included regular guests Dame Judi Dench, American actor Steve Martin
and Connolly's old friend Michael Parkinson.
In full Highland kit, the Big Yin spent the afternoon laughing and joking
with daughters Scarlett and Cara, grandson Walter and his wife Pamela
Stephenson.
He later presented his own trophy to the winner of the open piping
contest.
Former Brookside star Friel also joined in the spirit of things by handing
out sweets to children in the stand.
The collection of stars helped to attract a crowd of around 12,000 to
yesterday's gathering.
Show secretary George Thompson said: "Billy and his guests had a great
time. They always enjoy themselves here."
Later, the celebrities were expected to attend a ceilidh at Connolly's
nearby home, Candacraig, in honour of Sir Sean, who will be 73 tomorrow.
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Sunday Mirror
August 24, 2003, Sunday
NEWS; Pg. 9
THE KILTY PARTY;
STARS TURN OUT IN TRADITIONAL GEAR FOR BIG YIN'S GAMES
STUART PATTERSON
IT'S A HOOT, MON: Billy Connolly, above, and ex-Brookie girl Anna Friel,
left; GRANDSTAND VIEW: Sean Connery
FAMOUS Celtic fans Billy Connolly and Sean Connery yesterday missed
watching their beloved team to attend Highland games.
The superstar pair of die-hard supporters forgot the football game kicked
off early at 12.30pm.
So, instead of watching it live on TV, they were both sitting in the main
grandstand at Billy's local Lonach Gathering in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire.
When told the game kicked off early, Billy said: "Oh no! That means we
have gone and missed the whole damned thing."
But Billy, who kept the Lonach games supporters waiting last year as he
viewed Celtic on TV, put on a brave face.
He added: "I would have liked very much to see the game today, but never
mind."
The comedian and the former James Bond star - accompanied by his wife
Micheline - were joined at the games by Hollywood star Steve Martin and
actress Dame Judi Dench.
Despite being on his sick-bed with flu last week, Connolly was on great
form, cracking jokes and signing autographs.
But his full Highland dress, including tweed jacket, seemed to be too hot
for the blazing sunshine.
At one point, he slipped away from the grandstand to buy himself an ice
cream cone to cool down.
Since Connolly bought his estate five years ago near Connery's Scottish
pile, the comedian and his family have become regular fixtures at the
Lonach Gathering, along with Hollywood stars.
But funnyman Steve Martin seemed distracted and found it hard to
raise a smile.
By contrast, Dame Judi joined in with the crowds and tried on hats at one
of the stalls.
This year's Lonach Gathering - the 162nd - started as it does every year
with the Men of Lonach making a six-mile trek through their picturesque
glen.
They stopped off at every house on the way, including Connolly's
Candacraig, and enjoyed their traditional dram.
The Lonach games were once a modest affair but the patronage of Connolly
and his famous friends has helped it to become one of the most popular in
the Highland Games circuit.
Its popularity is rivalled only by Royal favourite, the Braemar Gathering,
which takes place in two weeks' time.
Connolly fell in love with the Strathdon area near Aberdeen when he filmed
Mrs Brown with Dame Judi.
He bought Candacraig House and the surrounding estate, which was owned at
the time by Anita Roddick, and the former shipyard welder quickly grew
into the role of Highland laird.
He was even made an honorary member of the Lonach Highland Society after
donating cash from a show to renovate a local hall.
But despite the stars giving the games their high-profile reputation,
event organisers have spoken out against them.
They complained that the celebrities were beginning to overshadow the
competitors and the hardy Men of Lonach.
Yesterday, singer Fran Healey and the other band members of top Scots
group Travis were at the star-studded bash, dressed in tartan with a not
so traditional tammy.
With no idea what tartan he was wearing, Fran joked: "As long as it's not
Rangers!"
Other new faces included ex-Brookie star Anna Friel, who was in tweed
jacket and jodhpurs and was joined by her actor partner David Thewlis,
after starring with Connolly in new adventure film Timeline.
Actor, comedian and writer Kevin Nealon and his companion, actress Susan
Yeagley, made an 11-hour journey to the games.
The Saturday Night Live star had got to know Connolly through his contact
with Monty Python funnyman Eric Idle. Yeagley is set to appear in the next
George Clooney film.
Actor Aidan Quinn was among the stars, as was chat show host Michael
Parkinson.
Also among the guests was 20-year-old leukaemia victim Millie Forbes, who
is a step closer to finding the vital bone marrow match that could save
her life. Billy Connolly highlighted Millie's desperate race against time
to find a life-saving donor after a search of 320,000 donors on the
Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust register failed to find a match for the
student.
Since Millie's plight touched the heart of the nation the Trust has been
inundated with applications from thousands of potential donors.
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