An actor's life for me...

by Scott Kyle

Celebrating the land of Love

I feel it in my fingers and I feel it in my toes…no, I’m not talking about arthritis brought on by the cold weather in Scotland but the greatest of human emotions - love!

As that great Glasgow band ‘Wet,Wet,Wet’ sang in their cover version for the soundtrack of Four Weddings and a Funeral - love is all around, especially this month.

As we head into February and look forward to St Valentine’s Day I can’t think of a more romantic place to celebrate 20 years together with my wife Karen this month than Scotland in general and Glasgow in particular.

I know my home city is not necessarily the first place most people associate with romance but you’d be surprised. Not only has the city more than its fair share of romantic restaurants, pubs and hotels but there are also numerous free to visit art galleries and museums, a vibrant night life and a lot of quiet places with excellent views.

Remarkably, Glasgow is even host to the bones of St Valentine himself. Part of the remains of the patron saint of love were brought to the city by Franciscan monks in the 19th century and have been resting in a place of honour in St Luke’s Church on Ballater Street, Glasgow ever since.

Sunset in Scotland

Photo by Stewart Cunningham

Almost anywhere you go in Scotland, the nation that gave birth to Robert Burns - one of the most passionate poets who ever lived, there are breathtakingly beautiful views.

It is often too easy to take what we have here in Scotland for granted but there is something very special about watching the sun go down over a loch, mountain, stone circle or castle steeped in history.

Often, Karen and I will get on our bikes and cycle down the Clyde towards Loch Lomond, which is just 30 minutes from Glasgow but might as well be a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There can be few more magical things to do than sit with a loved-one by the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and drink in the view. I defy anyone not to find that romantic!

Displays of affection

Vicki’s delightful cross-stitch

Both Burns and St Valentine are synonymous with romance and love which, in my book, makes them the greatest of role models. How much better would the world be if more people embraced those ideals?

One of the things that makes me so proud to be part of the Outlander family is the outpouring of love members of that community have shown me and each other.

Recently I was sent a photo of a piece of cross-stich by a Twitter friend, Vicki, which she had created of Karen and myself from a photo of us at the Royal Garden Party in Holyroodhouse Palace last summer. I love it and really appreciate the time and effort put into it.

Over the years so many people have sent us pieces of art they’ve done featuring myself and family or with an Outlander connection that we’re beginning to run out of space on the walls to display them.

Steven Hart’s portrait which has been entered for the John Byrne Award

One image of me by artist Steven Hart, is nearly as big as I am. Titled ‘The Quintessential Scot(t)’ it is a multi-layered portrait created over a four month period.

Steven put a lot of effort into the work with a lot of detail depicting various parts of my life, from my acting to my love of football. It’s a real treasure.

In fact there are so many excellent pieces that have been sent to me that my local library in Rutherglen, Glasgow is planning to hold an exhibition of them sometime later this year. Watch this space for details.

A cup o’kindness

Talking of giving I was really pleased to be asked to take on the role of Master of Ceremonies at a Burns supper in aid of Kilbryde Hospice, a charity established almost 20 years ago by Tony McGuinness and Dr John Richards to help provide palliative care beds in South Lanarkshire.

Over the years Kilbryde Hospice has provided much needed care and support to patients with life limiting illnesses such as Cancer, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson and Multiple Sclerosis.

It was an absolute honour to follow in the footsteps of so many lovers of our national poet and to take part in this annual occasion. It’s amazing to think that more than 200 years after he died he has such a major influence. Did you know that only Queen Victoria has more statues and memorials dedicated to her around the world? Not bad for a poor boy from Dumfries!

What started as an intimate little gathering by friends of the poet in 1801 to remember the poet has turned into a world wide event with Burns Suppers being held in almost every country in the world, many of them being used as fund raising events for numerous charities.

It was my first time acting as MC at one of these events. Apart from being a good excuse to get dressed up in my kilt (not that I ever need an excuse) it was also a chance to indulge in my favourite Scottish food. I know it’s a bit of a cliche but I really do like haggis, neeps and tatties.

However, the best bit of the night was that by the end of the evening we had managed to raise more than £11,000 for such a great cause.