The day I convinced 007 to become a member of the SNP
The man who persuaded Sir S ean Conner y to sign up to the SNP has told how the serial number on the late James Bond star’s membership card was 007.
But retired Edinburgh publisher Gordon Wright says it wasn’t a cheap stunt, but a happy coincidence – 007 just happened to be the next available serial number in the SNP’S membership book.
Sir Sean’s support of the SNP is legendary, but it wasn’t until a chat with Gordon in January 1992 that the Fountainbridgeborn actor filled out all the official forms.
Mr Wright, 78, who has been a card-holding member of the Scottish National Party since 1960, said he struck up a close friendship with Sir Sean after sending the Hollywood icon a book on Scotland’s history.
The pair met up for a drink when he was in town and spoke over the phone regularly to discuss the latest goings on in Scottish politics.
One day, Gordon asked him if he was a member of the SNP. To his surprise, he answered in the negative.
Mr Wright explains: “We were blethering over the phone and I asked him if he was an SNP member. ‘Nobody's ever asked me,’ he replied.”
After the Oscar winner’s movie career took off, he had purchased a ground floor property for his parents at West Savile Terrace in Newington. Gordon, who also lived in Newington, suggested the Oscar winner join up at the local SNP branch.
Mr Wright said: “Sean said ‘okay’, so I faxed him a membership form and he just signed it and sent it back. He was signed up that day and that was that.”
Incredibly, the serial number on Sir Sean’s membership card was 007 – matching the agent designation of James Bond, the role for which Connery is most famous.
The news that Scotland’s most famous son had officially joined the SNP caused a media frenzy.
Mr Wright said: “It sor t of set the heather alight and the phone was ringing non-stop after that. I was ver y grate - ful when the excitement died down.”
The acting legend was a vocal advocate of the SNP and for Scottish independence for decades and regularly spoke publicly on Scottish political matters.
Mr Wright adds: “Like Sean once said, Scotland is his birthright and he had every right to comment on what’s happening.”