Sir Paul McCartney recalls 'magical memories' in Campbeltown

Sir Paul McCartney has recalled "magical memories" near the town of Campbeltown, ahead of a film on the former Beatle being screened in the area.

McCartney owns a farm close to the town, and lived there with his late wife Linda for a spell in the 1970s. The region inspired his chart-topping hit Mull of Kintyre.

A new film called Man On The Run about McCartney's career in the 1970s, when he formed the band Wings in the aftermath of the Beatles breaking up, is being given a special sold out screening at the Campbeltown Picture House later.

To mark the occasion Sir Paul, sent a message to local newspaper the Campbeltown Courier about his fondness for the area.

In the message Sir Paul, who is rumoured to be releasing a new album this year, mentioned how much he enjoyed filming the video for Mull of Kintyre there, ahead of it becoming Christmas number one in 1977.

He said: "Campbeltown and the area of Kintyre and Argyllshire means a great deal to me. I have such magical memories with my family there.

"One of those memories is making a song with the local pipe band. We had so much fun recording it and then all coming together for the video. It was such a good laugh and then to see the crazy success that Mull Of Kintyre went on to have was very special."

He added that he would be raising a glass to the screening of the film, which is directed by Morgan Neville and will be released on Amazon Prime next week.

A memorial garden in the town centre - next to the cinema where the film will have its premiere - was built as a tribute to Linda McCartney after her death in 1998 from breast cancer.

BBC Scotland news correspondent Jamie McIvor grew up in Campbeltown in the 1970s and 80s, and said the McCartney's time in the area is still fondly remembered by people there to this day.

"I remember as a child seeing Paul and Linda in the queue in shops or simply out and about. As a child, you would see them on television but I didn't appreciate just how famous they actually were," he said.

"Occasionally a bemused visitor might say that they were sure the person they'd spoken to at the beach was Paul McCartney. I think that made me realise how well known they were."

He added that the couple were treated as neighbours rather than celebrities by many locals.

An exhibition of Linda McCartney's photographs in Glasgow in 2019 included a number of pictures taken in the area, some chronicling everyday scenes.

The new documentary includes rare unreleased music and previously unseen footage from the time.

Ellen Mainwood of the Campbeltown Picture House cinema said staff had been blown away by how quickly the screening sold out.

She added: " We're really excited to be screening Paul McCartney: Man on the Run and can't wait to see footage from the local area featuring as part of the story.

"We're delighted that several members of the pipe band who played on Mull of Kintyre will be coming along too."