Sir Jackie Stewart, the three-times Formula 1 world champion joined the Rangers and Scotland player to share their experiences of living with dyslexia.

They said they hoped to raise awareness about the condition and promote the work of Dyslexia Scotland.

Both men have overcome the condition – which affects their ability to read and write – and gone on to enjoy successful sporting careers.

Naismith, 25, spoke about being diagnosed with dyslexia when he was 13.

He said: "It was a relief to know I wasn't stupid and slower than everybody else, but at that stage I was into my football and really enjoyed it so the game was definitely an escape.

"Football was probably the main thing I did rather than the reading and writing stuff. Probably the reason for avoiding reading and writing was I wasn't very good at that."

"If raising awareness of dyslexia can make people feel at ease with it and not hide that they have it then we are doing that small part to help them."

Sir Jackie, 72, who is president of Dyslexia Scotland, was diagnosed when he was 42. He has been a prominent campaigner for the charity for many years.

He spoke about his inability to recite the alphabet, recall the Lord's Prayer or remember the words to the National Anthem.

He said: "I have been a successful racing driver and in business I have made more money than I did driving racing cars. The reason that happened is I was such a failure scholastically I had to find other ways of doing things."

Sir Jackie said it was "fantastic" that Steven had spoken out to support the charity.

He said: "There are so many young people out there and if they see somebody like that coming out and saying, 'I can't read and write correctly', they might just say 'I can't do this, I have been faking it, can I get some help?'."

l Dyslexia Scotland has published a book to help sufferers. For details see the website: www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk

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