Star arrives by sea

Anna Blyth • Published 5 Aug 2010 09:30

Share this

HARRY Potter star Timothy Spall rolled up on the shores of Ardrossan last week as part of his hit BBC documentary, 'Timothy Spall: Somewhere at Sea'.

The much loved British actor who plays Peter Pettigrew (aka 'Wormtail") in the Harry Potter films, and played Brummie Barry Taylor in drama series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, is currently filming the second stage of the documentary which follows he and his wife Shane as they circumnavigate the British coastline on their rather large Dutch barge.

Having left the barge - named 'Princess Matilda', after their granddaughter - moored in South Wales at the close of BBC4's screening of their first leg in May, the Spall's reappeared at the Clyde Marina at Ardrossan Harbour on Wednesday evening, only to be greeted by the Ardrossan Sea Cadets whose base lies nearby, further along the harbour.

On her blog, Spall's wife commented: "As I write (back onboard), Tim's on the phone and we have sea cadets peering through the window! They were very young, all smartly dressed in uniform, not one of them over twelve. The sea cadet lady and gentleman apologised for disturbing us, they just wanted the cadets to see Princess Matilda."

John McDonald, Chief Petty Officer of the Sea Cadets in Ardrossan explained that he had watched the first stage of Spall's documentary on television in May, and while at the marina with the young sea cadets on Wednesday evening, recognised Spall's barge and took the youngsters to have a look and meet the star.

Having spent the following day on Arran, The Herald caught up with Spall onboard the Princess Matilda that evening where he was, once again, found playing a commendable host to the excited young cadets. Describing himself as an unqualified and somewhat apprehensive mariner, Spall immediately struck up a conversation with Able Seaman Daniel Small who, having spent six years with the Ardrossan Sea Cadets, joined the Royal Navy in January 2009 and is set for America in September this year.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.

Follow @ardrossanherald

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.