Beattie signs up for book festival

TIDELINES Book Festival in Ayrshire this year includes former Scottish international rugby star John Beattie in its September event.

Capped 25 times for Scotland, Beattie has twice toured with the British Lions in the 1980s, and was in the last Scottish side to beat England at Twickenham.

Forced by injury to retire in 1987, Beattie started writing and broadcasting and is also an after dinner speaker.

Tidelines chairman Keith Charters said: “We’re hoping he will bring a new audience to our festival this year.”

Beattie will be appearing at Tidelines Book Festival in the Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, on September 25 at 3pm. tidelinesbookfest.com