Tribute to Star Trek's Scotty to be staged at Linlithgow Palace

The Wrath of Khan, the second instalment in the long-running movie series, will be screened at Linlithgow Palace next month to celebrate the home town of Montgomery “Scotty” Scott.

The much-loved chief engineer of engineer of the Starship Enterprise, played for almost 30 years by Canadian actor James Doohan, is said to have been born in Linlithgow on 28 June 2222.

Now the famous character will be honoured with a free screening of a “director’s cut” of the film regarded as the best Star Trek movie by many fans - which will also mark the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

It is being organised by Historic Environment Scotland, which is responsible for the attraction, VisitScotland and Linlithgow town centre managers.

Linlithgow Palace, the favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens, is best known as the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

DC Fontana, one of the criptwriters on the original 1960s science fiction series, identified Linlithgow as Scotty’s birthplace in a later novel, Vulcan’s Glory.

The actor’s relatives, including his widow Wende even visited the West Lothian town to unveil a commemorative plaque in 2007 - two years after he passed away at the age of 85.

Fontana today revealed that she had decided to make Linlithgow the future birthplace of Scott after making a number of visits on drips to Scotland.

She added: “It is a most beautiful place – and, of course, filled with history. Linlithgow Palace is stunning – a person can wander through and around it for hours and just drink in the spectacular scene and its haunting, stirring history.

“I thought it was a fitting reference for the character of Mr Scott and his family background.”

Only 200 tickets will be available for the free event on 10 September, which will take place in a mobile cinema parked in the courtyard. They will be allocated via an online ballot which will open until 4 September.

To coincide with the film screening, a special exhibition devoted to James Doohan will also be mounted at the town’s Annet House Museum from 5-30 September.

Stephen Duncan, director of commercial and tourism at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Linlithgow is widely thought of as the future birthplace of Scotty, one of Star Trek’s best-known characters, so it’s extremely fitting that half a century on since the iconic sci-fic first appeared on screen, that Trekkies and other galactic enthusiasts will gather at Linlithgow Palace for a special screening next month. It promises to make for a truly unique open-air viewing experience.”