Special message to Crieff High students and CHAS appeal

Star Wars legends Ewan McGregor and Denis Lawson have sent a special message to pupils at Crieff High School.

And Ewan also filmed himself making a charity appeal to mark the upcoming Star Wars Day on May 4.

Ewan and Denis, who are nephew and uncle and both from Crieff, spoke to pupils on April 24, the day the 2020 leavers should have been finishing up.

Instead, the pupils’ school life came to an end last month due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Denis, who played rebel hero Wedge in the original Star Wars trilogy and the final instalment of the most recent trilogy, said he was sure the pupils will “have a party” once the crisis finally passes.

He added: “I want to wish you all the best in your future careers. Good luck to you all.”

Ewan, who famously played ObiWan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, also passed on his best wishes.

He said: “I just want to wish everyone at Crieff High School who’s finishing this year the best of luck and good wishes going forward.

“I’m sorry it’s been such an odd end of your schooling, to be doing lessons on computer screens from your bedrooms or houses, wherever you are, and not to be all together, and not to be able to finish together, it’s such a shame for all of you and I am sorry that you missed out on that.

“But nonetheless, I just wanted to wish you all the best.”

The video then includes emotional messages with the theme ‘together as one’ from teachers and pupils wishing the leavers the best of luck.

Meanwhile Ewan has also got behind a nationwide appeal for a popular children’s charity.

He made a heartfelt plea to fans in a YouTube video to back Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – better known as CHAS.

CHAS, which runs Rachel House in Kinross, is encouraging people to dig out their “geeky” t-shirt and show their allegiance to their favourite sci-fi film, fantasy, cartoon or musical hero.

The appeal is part of CHAS’s new ‘Share Your Joy’ campaign, and is aptly named ‘May the Fourth’, which is international Star Wars Day due to its likeness to the Jedi mantra “may the force be with you”.

Ewan, who once visited Rachel House on his motorbike, proudly donned a t-shirt with the word ‘Scotland’ in Star Wars font to make the appeal.

He said: “Myself and my mum have been involved in CHAS and visited their hospices many times over the years. I know the warm welcome that Rachel and Robin House can offer; long may these wonderful places continue.

“So, if you have the time, please join me by wearing your favourite geeky t-shirt on May the fourth. Follow @SupportCHAS, post your pictures, and use the hashtag #Maythe4thBeWithCHAS.

“And please remember, until the coast is clear – stay home, stay safe. Let’s support the vulnerable and our keyworkers through this crisis by doing the sensible thing.”

Laura Campbell, community fundraising development manager at CHAS, said: “It means the world to have Ewan’s support, as well as the extended ‘geeky’ community, especially at an extraordinary time like this. What a lovely way to introduce fans to our family.”

People can donate £3 by texting ‘Geeky 3’ to 70450 or at www. justgiving.com/campaign/geeky2020