Rugby legend Doddie Weir kicked off the Winter Words Festival in Pitlochry with his trademark warmth and humour.
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) campaigner was due to attend the festival, now in its 16th year, in 2019, but fell ill shortly before his scheduled appearance.
He took to the stage at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in his trademark tartan trousers on Thursday to discuss his book The World According to Doddie, in which he shares his outlook and lessons on life.
He discussed his journey with MND since his diagnosis in 2017 and shared anecdotes from his rugby career.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre said he was the ideal person to start this year’s programme.
A spokesperson said: “The Winter Words festival provides an important boost to the Perthshire economy at this time of year with many visitors seeing multiple events over several days of the four day festival.
“Doddie Weir brought the house down with laughter in a packed auditorium, and filled out the book fair with audience members filling the restaurant and River Room, waiting to get a word with the great man.”
Other well known names at this year’s festival will include broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson, TV presenter Paul Murton, Newsnight presenters Kirsty Wark and Gavin Esler, and crime writer Val McDermid.
Last minute tickets can be obtained from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre website.
