SCOTS motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart is getting in gear to become a Freeman of West Dunbartonshire tomorrow.
By Lauren Mayberry
SCOTS motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart is getting in gear to become a Freeman of West Dunbartonshire tomorrow.
Sir Jackie will visit his old haunts, including the house where he grew up.
Local school children will give the former Grand Prix champion a tour of his old primary school, now Dumbarton Academy, and interview him about his life at a special 'junior' press conference.
The children will also present a special cake made by Top Tier in honour of Sir Jackie's recent 70th birthday.
The Hyndland Road shop created a cake of his famous Formula One car, almost 2ft long.
Owner Evelyn Hogarth and her team of bakers and decorators pride themselves on home-baking pieces of edible art.
"If you have the idea, we can bake the cake - and this one was pretty special," said Evelyn.
Tomorrow's events will culminate in a ceremony at Dumbarton Municipal Buildings, where a ceremonial scroll representing a Freeman's ticket will be presented to Sir Jackie.
Born in Milton and the son of a local garage owner, Sir Jackie amassed 27 Grand Prix wins from 1965 to 1973 and won three world championships.
He then forged a successful post-racing career in broadcast, business and F1 team ownership with one of his sons, Paul, and Ford Motor Company.
Awarded his OBE in 1972 and knighted in 2001, Sir Jackie has also been given honorary doctorates from many universities, including Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh and St Andrews.
He has battled dyslexia throughout his life but was only diagnosed aged 42. Since then, he has become a motivational speaker on the issue.
He is president of Dyslexia Scotland, founder and vice-president of the Scottish International Education Trust and a member of the International Advisory Board to the Scottish Parliament.
"In view of Sir Jackie's tough experience as a child at school due to his dyslexia, we wanted to show him the teaching help in all West Dunbartonshire schools to support children with this and other learning difficulties," said David McMillan, West Dunbartonshire Council's chief executive.
Theoretically free to pasture his flock on common ground, big-hearted Sir Jackie was touched by the modern ceremonial aspect of the award.
He said: "It means a lot to me to be returning home. I've always been very proud of my Dumbarton origins and I am delighted West Dunbartonshire is proud of my achievements and is granting me this wonderful honour."
