Hollywood star Ewan McGregor on his watchmaker grandfather and how he inspired a love of timepieces

Mar 9 2012 Exclusive by James Moncur

Ewan McGregor with his grandfather Lawrie Lawson

AS well as lightsabers, X-wing fighters and talking robots, Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor knows a good watch when he sees one.

The Hollywood superstar’s love of beautiful timepieces is inspired by one of Scotland’s greatest-ever watchmakers - his grandad, Laurie Lawson.

Laurie, who passed away 30 years ago, toured the country fixing anything from tiny wristwatches to huge church clocks and was known as the man who “kept his town ticking”.

When Ewan was young, he spent many a happy afternoon in Laurie’s shop in Crieff, Perthshire, watching his master-craftsman grandad at work.

Shortly before he died in 1981, Laurie gave each of his close relatives a beautiful carriage clock.

Among them was his son and Ewan’s uncle, Scots actor Denis Lawson – who coincidentally appeared in the original Star Wars film.

He also gave the young Ewan a stunning silver pocket watch which is still one of his most treasured possessions.

Ewan said this week: “I’m not a watch buff or a collector, I’ve just picked up a few nice watches over the years, buying them here and there.

“I’ve got watches in my history – my grandfather was a watchmaker and jeweller.

“He learned his trade in Glasgow and then moved to Crieff where I was brought up, and he spent his life there keeping people’s watches going.

“He was in charge of making sure the town clock kept the right time. He also had a rota of people he’d visit regularly, going out to farms, maintaining people’s clocks. The funny thing is we thought it was lovely growing up as kids – but he hated it, bent over these tiny, intricate things.

“He was very good at it though.

“Before he died, my grandfather gave a timepiece to all of the family. I got a beautiful pocket watch that he restored, which is a nice link to him.”

At her home in Crieff yesterday, Laurie’s 89-year-old widow, Phyllis, said: “Laurie was a wonderful watchmaker and repairer – one of the best.

“He died when Ewan was about 11 but played a pretty big part in his life.

“We had a shop in the town with a small workshop in the back and Ewan spent many an afternoon in there with his grandad, keeping him company and chatting to him.

“Ewan was fascinated by Laurie’s work and was very proud of him – his grandad was very well known across Scotland and was a hugely respected and hard-working man.

“As well as the carriage clock, Laurie gave Ewan a beautiful silver pocket watch that he’d spent days renovating.

“Ewan was only young but I think he immediately realised how special the gift was and he’s still got it now.”

Phyllis was introduced to her husband at a party – and he took one look at her watch and described it as “total rubbish” within seconds of them meeting.

To make up for insulting her, Laurie asked Phyllis to dance later in the evening and the couple never looked back.

Phyllis said: “Laurie could dance better than he could make watches and after the initial shock of his insult, he whisked me off my feet and I knew he was the man for me.”

The couple lived in Govan, Glasgow, where Laurie worked for the best watchmakers in Scotland, Edwards in Buchanan Street.

He was offered the top job there but turned it down. Instead, the couple decided to move to Perthshire with
their children, Denis and Carol – Ewan’s mother – in 1950.

The family chose Crieff and lived in a holiday home owned by Phyllis’s mum, who used to visit the area regularly throughout the year.

Days after they arrived, Laurie set up shop in the basement of a lawyer’s office.

But trade became so brisk that he was forced to move to bigger premises on the High Street.

The new shop was ideal because it had a huge window that let in lots of natural light – a watchmaker’s best friend.

Laurie quickly built up a reputation as the man who kept Crieff ticking and was responsible for the area’s main clocks, including the one in the town hall.

And, unknown to many in the area, he visited its tower every Hogmanay to ensure the bells went off without
a hitch.

Phyllis said: “Every New Year, Laurie would take Denis and Carol to the town hall to make sure the bells would work properly.

“The clock tower was disgusting with pigeon droppings and dust everywhere and I don’t think the kids enjoyed it too much, but it showed how passionate Laurie was to make sure the clock worked on the most important day of the year. As soon as he heard the first chime of 12 he’d be off though.”

Laurie died of lung cancer in 1981, aged 63, and Phyllis kept the shop going until 2006 when she retired.

The tireless charity fundraiser still has two beautiful clocks – handmade by her husband – standing proudly in her front room that are in perfect working order and chime every hour.