I met Johnny Beattie in an unusual circumstance where he afforded me an extreme kindness. I was 15, I was at the Scottish BAFTA’s & because I was a child actor who didn’t know any better, I was pure brazen & walked up & annoyed Billy Connolly while he was having a cigar ... https://twitter.com/stvnews/status/1286537847462191104

I prattled some patter to the Big Yin about how he was an inspiration or that, he was kind & tolerant & that. But was clearly wanting to smoke his cigar & not be annoyed by a 15 year old kid. Just as it was starting to feel a bit awkward, an arm fell over my shoulder.

This voice boomed “Mr Connolly, I see you’ve met Mr Robertson - he’s a fine young actor you know. A St Gerards boy like us!” I looked up & it was Johnny. I had never met him, I only knew of him, but he told Billy about a film I was in & said very nice things about me as an actor.

It then became a very warm conversation & the kindness of both men was extreme. But Johnny stood with his arm round me & bummed me up no end. It was a needless act of kindness, but somehow Johnny knew we’d all attended the same school.

I’ve experienced the same generosity from @MaureenBeattie2, so it must be a family trait. He was an man of magnanimity. Last time I saw him was a Kings Panto, we were both in the audience. I said to him “Ye no wish ye were up there Johnny?” He said to me:

“Och naw son, ave hung up ma bra!”

He was a kind kind man. He was generous. I’d like to be half as decent as he was, if you could be half as decent as Johnny - you’d still be a wonderful person.

No bad for a St Gerards lad