'Thanks for the autograph on the Cramond Inn menu' - Irvine Welsh pays tribute to late Bond actor Sean Connery

Edinburgh novelist Irvine Welsh has paid tribute to the former James Bond and Oscar-winning star Sir Sean Connery.

The Leith-born writer described Sir Sean as a “great guy” and “a lifelong inspiration” in an announcement he made on Twitter following the late actor’s death on Saturday.

His tribute read: “Great guy.

"But a good innings and an amazing life.

Picture of Irvine Welsh and the late Bond star Sean Connery picture: JPI Media

"RIP my friend and lifelong inspiration.

"Thanks for the autograph on the Cramond Inn menu when I was six, and your conversation with my mother-in-law in South London will stay with me forever.”

Sir Sean died at the age of 90 at his home in the Bahamas on Saturday and tributes have since flooded in for the man who made a name for himself starring as James Bond.

According to his relatives, he died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him.

Sir Sean’s widow Micheline said the award-winning Holywood actor had been diagnosed with dementia which “took its toll on him” in his later years.

President Donald Trump was among many others who paid tribute to the famed Scot.

He said: “The legendary actor, 007 Sean Connery, has past on to even greener fairways. He was quite a guy, and a tough character. I was having a very hard time getting approvals for a big development in Scotland when Sean stepped in and shouted, ‘let him build the damn thing.’

"That was all I needed, everything went swimmingly from there. He was so highly regarded & respected in Scotland and beyond that years of future turmoil was avoided. Sean was a great actor and an even greater man. Sincere condolences to his family.”

Sir Sean’s acting career, which spread over five decades, saw him win an Oscar, two Baftas and three Golden Globes.

Since the news of his passing, other stars have paid tribute to the man, including fellow Bond actor Pierce Brosnan.

Brosnan, who starred as secret agent 007 in four films, described Sir Sean as “one of the true greats of cinema”, adding that the Edinburgh-born actor “cast a long shadow of cinematic splendour that will live on forever”.

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