community in some way or another. It was a very humbling experience to meet such great folk from all walks of life - each of them with a great story to tell about working for charities, developing arts projects or serving in the military. I had a fascinating chat with some of the team organising the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The best part of the day for me was seeing the smile on Karen’s face. She looked amazing and it was great to see her enjoying it. She’s had to put up with quite a lot over the years, staying up late waiting for me to get home from a theatre play or my disappearing for weeks on end to make a movie. It was a day neither of us will ever forget, and not just because of all the pomp and ceremony. It was a real privilege to meet lots of ordinary, hard working people who do so much for others and see them get some sort of official recognition for their efforts.
F
Meeting other guests - the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon
Back in time
rom one stage to another - just days after the surreal experience of mixing with royalty and high society I was back in the trenches preparing for a new role in a play being staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ‘A War of Two Halves’ is the true story of the Heart of Midlothian players who volunteered for the First World War - and it’s a highly emotional play. Superbly written by Paul Beeson and Tim Barrow it is directed by Bruce Strachan and follows the fortunes of the team as they swapped the pitch at Tynecastle for the trenches of France. As part of the 16th Royal Scots, raised by Edinburgh businessman Sir George McCrae in less than a week to answer the call
p32
Photo by Stephen W. Dunn Trench scene from A War of Two Halves