Our special Bond with 007 legend
HOW sad to hear of the passing of Sean Connery. In 1964, I was an assistant professional golfer at Richmond golf club in Surrey. I was informed that the Bond actor wanted to learn to play the game to a decent level before filming the golf scene in Goldfinger. I gave him many lessons and enjoyed my time with him because he was always a pleasant guy. I played a few rounds with him and, at his insistence, it was always for money: £1 out, £1 in and £1 in the game. This was easy money for me. My weekly wage was £4, so it was a huge bonus. Every time I saw his grey Jag coming up the drive, I knew I was going to have a decent meal that night. When I saw Goldfinger, I was impressed by Connery’s ability to swing a club — he looked like a golfer.
STAN GASTON, Rothesay, Isle of Bute. SEAN CONNERY was a member of my golf club, Las Brisas, and when he walked into the clubhouse you just knew it was him without turning round — such presence. When I was Lady Captain, I asked him for a favour and by the time I returned home, there was a message from him on the answer phone — I didn’t wipe it! My daughter-in-law, Millie, was driving a golf buggy on the course with a tough Irish guy when Connery drove a ball into them. Our friend then teed up a ball and fired it back. Whereupon Connery came flying down in his buggy waving a golf club. Also waving a club, the Irishman said to Millie: ‘After him!’ With the buggies traversing the fairway, she felt as if she were in a Bond movie!
SHIRLEY HARRIES, Marbella, Spain. I HAD a brief encounter with Sean Connery that summed up what a gentleman he was. In 1970, I had a hospital appointment in London. A points failure on the train journey there caused a 45-minute delay. Fearing I would be late for my appointment, I tried to flag down a taxi, but without success. Standing at traffic lights, I jumped into the first taxi to stop at the red light. The taxi driver ordered me to get out because he already had a fare. I refused and said I needed to get to a medical appointment. The unmistakeable voice of 007 asked which hospital I was going to. Sitting in the back seat was Sean Connery, not in a tuxedo, bow tie and drinking a martini, but wearing a silver-grey twopiece suit, matching tie and the shiniest black shoes I’d ever seen. He told the driver to take me to the hospital and asked me all about my career as a nurse. When we arrived, he refused to allow me to pay part of the taxi fare and offered his best wishes for my health and happiness. I have never forgotten his generosity and the warmth of his kind wishes.
NETA ALLAN, Hartley Wintney, Hants. THE iconic picture of Sean Connery is as James Bond holding a pistol by his face. On the day of the photoshoot, the firearms expert failed to bring a pistol to the studio, so a runner was sent to get one or the photoshoot would have to be cancelled. He came back with the only firearm he could find: an air pistol. This might be OK for shooting rats or squirrels, but was no match for 007.