Bust is from Estonia with love for Sean

Published on Wednesday 19 January 2011 14:23

IT is certain to be one of the more unusual tributes to Edinburgh's most famous actor.

Sir Sean Connery is to be immortalised in bronze for the first time, not in Hollywood or his birthplace - but in the small Baltic republic of Estonia.

Sir Sean's image has been captured in an 8500 bust raised by high-roller admirers in the country's capital, Tallinn.

The nation's select Scottish Club, which counts prime ministers and top industrialists amongst its members, will unveil the bust, believed to be the only one in the world, at a ceremony on January 27.

Sir Sean could not make the trip to Estonia, where temperatures routinely plunge to -20C in January, but he has thanked the club for the unusual honour.

Mrt Haamer, president of The Scottish Club, said: "We started this four or five years ago with an idea of opening a Scottish exhibition and putting together a collection of Scots who have made a difference.

"Robert Burns is already in the courtyard. As far as we know this will be the first bronze bust of Sean Connery in the world.

"The money was raised from private donors in Scotland and Estonia. This is one of the few courtyards in the old town, so it's a special place for it to be.

"We've had to limit the number of people coming because the courtyard is quite small and there will be diplomatic people from the UK and Estonia, as well as Neeme Jrvi, conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra."

He added: "We were very close to getting Sir Sean over for the European Film Academy Awards in Tallinn last month, but he and his family could not make it."

The bust was created by Tiiu Kirsipuu, Estonia's most famous sculptor, and is intended to mark the year Sir Sean turned 80. The club itself was first founded in 1993 as a whisky society, but became associated with prominent politicians and top business figures.

Based in the heart of Tallinn's Unesco heritage site, its staff serve guests dressed in kilts, while the carpet is tartan.

Iain Lawson, Estonia's Honorary Consul to Scotland, said Sir Sean was "absolutely delighted" by his sculpture. He said: "It was through myself the club made contact and although he wasn't able to travel to Estonia, I know he was absolutely delighted that Estonia had honoured him.

"He has a photograph we sent to him. I've been to the Scottish Club in Tallinn many times. It has a beautiful building on the city wall and the statue will stand at the heart of that."