Sean Connery prefers golf to taking pride of place at Tartan Week

Published on Sunday 3 April 2011 14:58

HE IS one of the best-known Scots in the world - but legendary actor Sir Sean Connery is this year to snub the flagship event of a major Scottish cultural celebration in New York - insisting he prefers to play golf.

The 80-year-old star has been a long-time supporter and honorary chairman of Dressed to Kilt, the fashion show highlight of the city's Tartan Week, but has backed out of attending tomorrow's event at the last minute.

The star, who has been at the event in New York with his wife Micheline five times in the past seven years, was expected to be this year's guest of honour - particularly as his 15-year-old grand-daughter Saskia, daughter of his stepson Stephane, is modelling for the first time.

However, Sir Sean's publicist, Nancy Seltzer, has admitted that the star will not be attending, prompting fears that health problems are keeping him away.

A source close to the event said it was a shock that Sir Sean would not be present.

Since its launch in 2004, the annual Dressed to Kilt fundraiser has seen famous Scots such as Gerard Butler and Alan Cumming join professional models to show off cutting-edge tartan designs and clothing.

Miss Seltzer insisted that the film icon is in perfect health and just prefers to play golf at home in the Bahamas. When told that the organisers were expecting Sir Sean, she said: "I've left word for Sean, who is on the golf course. He told me he wasn't attending and had retired from public appearances.

"I will ask him again, but he's feeling fine."

She later added: "I've just gotten off the phone with Sean. Once again, he's not attending. Lady Connery is attending, as is Stephane Connery and his daughter."

Dressed to Kilt organisers seemed perplexed by the last-minute change to the arrangement. A source said: "Just earlier this week we had no doubt Sir Sean would be coming in his capacity as our honorary chairman. He was expected, but obviously something has happened to change this, which is a real disappointment. It's a bit of a shock and, to be honest, strange that the guest list would be changing so late in the day.

"We got a call to tell us Sir Sean isn't coming. Apparently, he's on the golf course."

The source added: "He's made no secret of his passion for Dressed to Kilt over the years and his name was definitely on the guest-list. It's all a bit odd."

Some of the celebrities set to feature in this year's Dressed to Kilt at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom are musician Paolo Nutini and country and western star Roseanne Cash. The comedian Billy Connolly is also due to attend.

Questions have been raised about Sir Sean's health over the past few years. In 2007, he was unable to attend Dress to Kilt because he was having potentially cancerous polyps on his throat examined.His father died of throat cancer at the age of 69.

And at an event in Edinburgh last year to mark his 80th birthday, onlookers said Sir Sean looked shaky and needed help to walk.

Sir Sean's brother Neil, who lives in Edinburgh, said he is not aware of any fresh health fears.

"He's okay as far as I am aware," he said. "I can't go any further than to say I don't know why he's not taking part."