Latest news with #Morrison'sAcademy
Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scots Hollywood star rejoins old school band to perform outside his £2m mansion
One person very close to the star was in tears over the performance TOP OF THE CLASS Scots Hollywood star rejoins old school band to perform outside his £2m mansion Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EWAN McGregor rejoined his former school's pipe band for a performance at his Scottish mansion. The Hollywood star played side drum while a pupil at Morrison's Academy in his hometown of Crieff, Perthshire. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Ewan McGregor performed with his former pipe band 4 The Hollywood star was all smiles outside the £2million mansion 4 The Scots actor features in an exciting new Apple TV show Credit: Getty The school's pipe band were asked to come along to the £2 million home in Carse of Gowrie to serenade McGregor and friend Charley Boorman as they set off on their latest motorcycle adventure. The performance is featured in the opening episode of the Apple TV series Long Way Home which sees the pair travel from McGregor's home in Scotland to Boorman's in the south of England - via Scandinavia. McGregor's mum Carol shed tears as she watched her son join in with the band by playing the drum at the 18th century country retreat in Perthshire. Speaking in the series premiere, the 54-year-old Trainspotting actor said: "I used to be a side drummer in this pipe band and my dad before me and my uncle. I come from a long line of drummers. "It's a massive band now. There was only like nine of us in the band I was in. "When they crack off it gets the hairs on the back of your neck standing up." In a statement posted on social media, Morrison's Academy said: "Former pupil Ewan McGregor auditions for Morrison's Academy Pipe deftly demonstrates that he's not lost his rhythm! "We can let the cat out of the bag. "Morrison's Academy pipe band were delighted to set former pupil Ewan McGregor and motorcycling buddy Charley Boorman off on their travels again across Europe." McGregor's father Jim was a physical education teacher at the fee-paying school and helped arrange the performance. Ewan McGregor emotional as he's awarded star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Long Way Home marks 20 years since McGregor and Boorman's first filmed adventure, called Long Way Round, which saw them travel from London to New York, via Europe, Asia and Alaska. McGregor, who also has a home in Los Angeles, is now spending extended periods at his Scottish property which is set in more than 18 acres of land and gardens. Property records show he bought the Category C-listed 10 bedroom property in 2023 for £2.35 million. It had been on the market for offers over £2.15 million. The property comes with a gate lodge and a courtyard of outbuildings and has more than 15,000sq ft of living space on three floors, with a two-bedroom flat, stores and a wine cellar. 4 A Hollywood star rejoined his school band to perform outside his £2m mansion Credit: Getty Since buying the home, McGregor has been given permission to erect a replacement garage and to create a new master bedroom and bathroom suite. In an interview last year, he said: "I definitely started to feel this pull home. I never saw it coming, it's weird. "I think whoever made the world started with Scotland and got it right. "I don't think you appreciate it when you're young as much as you do when you're older."
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
11 celebrities you didn't know were educated in Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross has played a key formative role for several celebrities over the years. Actors, footballers, musicians and more – the area has reared some high-achieving individuals. Famously, Perth and Kinross was the breeding ground of two of the country's best-known actors. Ewan McGregor, of Star Wars and Trainspotting fame, is from Crieff. And Alan Cumming, known for playing the MC in Cabaret in film and on stage, is from Aberfeldy. However, several other high-flying figures have educational links to Perth and Kinross that are less known. Mother to Scottish tennis stars Andy and Jamie, Judy Murray and family are most often connected to Stirlingshire. However, she actually attended school in Perthshire. As there was no high school in Dunblane at the time, Murray went to Morrison's Academy in Crieff. Known for its excellent sports programme, Murray credits the school for strengthening her love of tennis. Before finding fame with Arsenal FC, Balbeggie's Lisa Evans played for her local youth team, St Johnstone. Since then, the former St Columba's High School pupil has performed as a winger and full-back for the big names such as Bayern Munich and West Ham United before returning to her first-signed team, Glasgow City. Evans was in the Arsenal squad that won the 2018 FA Women's League Cup. That June, she scored the winner for Scotland to seal a 3-2 comeback against Poland in a World Cup qualifier. While he may be known for acting in the original Star Wars trilogy, Denis Lawson was not born in a galaxy far, far away. In fact, he hails from Glasgow. Although, when he was three, his family relocated to Crieff, where he later attended the local primary school. Lawson went to Morrison's Academy and attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama en route to a successful acting career. World-famous golfer Colin Montgomerie was born in Scotland but raised in Yorkshire. However, he returned north of the border when he enrolled at Strathallan School in Forgandenny. Montgomerie's first amateur titles were all earned in Scotland. Professionally, he won 31 European titles, the most of any British player. Overall, the 2010 Ryder Cup captain amassed 42 tournament victories, but a major title proved elusive, finishing second on five occasions. The comedian and BBC Scotland presenter was born in Perth and was educated in the city. Fred MacAulay attended primary schools in Killin and Rattray before moving to Blairgowrie High School and Perth Academy. He is famous for running the 18-year-long BBC Scotland radio programme MacAulay and Co. Before she generated enough star power to be in season 10 of ITV's I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Gillian McKeith lived in Perth. She was born in Perth to a shipyard worker father and office worker mother. Host of Channel 4's You Are What You Eat and regular guest on E4's Supersize v Superskinny, McKeith credits her US boyfriend for encouraging the healthy eating habits that made her famous. Scottish rugby legend Dougie Hall was born in Dingwall but moved to Methven for school. He was scouted while playing for the school team at Glenalmond College. Hall went on to play more than 140 games with the Glasgow Warriors and collected 42 caps for Scotland. Crispin Bonham-Carter is an English actor best known for playing Mr Bingley in the 1995 version of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. Before he became Colin Firth's co-star, Bonham-Carter went to school in Perthshire. The actor was educated at Glenalmond College before studying at the University of St Andrews. TV historian Tessa Dunlop was born and educated in Perthshire. She attended Pitlochry High School before switching to Strathallan School. Dunlop moved to England to complete her studies at St Hilda's College in Oxford. She worked on the LBC radio station and BBC London before presenting historical television shows. She has since written several oral history books focusing on women, war and the royal family. Diamond emigrated to Canada in 2009 after living in London and the Lake District for several years. However, before that, he was born and raised in Arbroath, later receiving a scholarship to attend 'the lovely posh' Strathallan School. Diamond is well known for hosting 90s TV phenomenon Gamemaster. He later moved on to various radio projects for the BBC and Channel 5. He still hosts several radio shows and is a monthly columnist for The Guardian. The Taggart and River City actor may play Glasgow-based characters, but Colin McCredie actually grew up in Perth. Born in Dumbarton, he arrived at a young age and attended St John's Primary School and Perth High School. The St Johnstone fan also sharpened his acting skills at Perth Theatre. McCreadie featured in more than 75 episodes of Taggart between 1995 and 2010. He later played Nick Morrison in River City.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Private school head accuses Reeves of ‘politically motivated tax on education'
A private school headteacher has accused Rachel Reeves of imposing a 'politically motivated education tax' on British students, after it emerged US military personnel would be exempt. Andrew McGarva, principal at Morrison's Academy in Perthshire, Scotland, said he was 'dismayed' to learn the children of American soldiers would be spared the tax after Labour's 'steadfast refusal to consider any form of exemption or delay for vulnerable groups'. It comes after The Telegraph revealed last week that the 20pc VAT levy on school fees would not apply to children of US soldiers because of a tax rule that has exempted American military from paying tax on services since 1951. In a briefing note, HM Revenue and Customs said American military families would be exempt under the 'VAT-free purchase scheme'. The tax relief dates back to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement signed 74 years ago. Mr McGarva, who has led the £20,880-a-year Scottish school for the past three years, said: 'This decision highlights inconsistencies in the imposition of VAT on school fees and raises troubling questions about our Government's priorities. 'It feels as though this decision has more to do with keeping in step with the US than protecting children's education. 'The introduction of this 'education tax' is not about improving the state sector or addressing inequalities – it is a politically motivated move that risks harming children, families and communities across the UK.' It comes after Labour stopped short of granting an exemption for British service families at the Budget in October. This was despite warnings it could spark an exodus of military families at a time when the Army is at its smallest size in 200 years. In an interview with The Scotsman, Mr McGarva added: 'What makes this policy particularly frustrating is the Government's steadfast refusal to consider any form of exemption or delay for vulnerable groups. 'Families of children with additional needs, schools serving niche communities, and those supporting the armed forces have all been dismissed. 'However an exemption has now been made for US personnel, supposedly in adherence to an agreement signed over 70 years ago.' James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, accused Labour of 'treating British forces as second-class citizens'. He said: 'We consistently argued for an exemption to be applied. Labour must now urgently adopt that policy or accept they are delivering a deep unfairness to those who serve our country.' His concerns were echoed by Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, a former British army veteran and fellow Conservative MP, who called the decision 'outrageous'. The MP for Solihull West and Shirley said: 'The Chancellor has reneged on her commitment to British serving personnel while standing by her commitment to the US military. It should be one rule for all.' Parents of children with special needs who are unable to get an education, health and care plan, faith groups and small independent schools have repeatedly lobbied Labour to consider an exemption, but their concerns have not been addressed. Their hopes now lie in the High Court where a legal challenge on behalf of more than 1,000 private schools is set to be heard before Easter which aims to show the controversial policy breaches the human rights of children. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
