Additional reporting by Chris Faulds

A TILLICOULTRY family has had the chance to meet Ewan McGregor and his wife Mary as the Scottish star actor paid a visit to a charity.

The Wee County’s Hunter family met the Trainspotting actor along with his spouse and American actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead when the duo paid a visit to Rachel House children’s hospice in Kinross.

Tillicoultry’s Freya Hunter, who lives with severe cerebral palsy, and campaigning mum Carolynne previously featured in the Advertiser after being hit with extortionate energy bills to operate life-support equipment at home.

The family, including older sister Katie, met with the famous couple as they visited the Kinross hospice, run by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

Ewan, who was also accompanied by brother Colin and his wife Sarah, was given a tour of the hospice by CHAS CEO Rami Okasha before meeting five children with life-shortening conditions who are supported by the charity, including Freya.

Mum Carolynne told the Advertiser: “He came over for a wee visit with his wife Mary and they were both so lovely.

“Freya is having a BIPAP trial and he came in to see us. They spent a bit of time chatting to us and he was really interested in Freya’s trial.

“My oldest daughter Katie was there as well so she was really excited to meet his wife, she was a big fan of her films when she was younger.

“Katie loved watching Robots when she was little - Ewan McGregor did the voiceover for that so she was pretty excited to meet him too.

“Ewan was very interested in us and as he was leaving, he touched Freya’s hand and said 'Bye Freya' and it was such a lovely gesture.

“They were both such lovely people, they really took an interest in us and Freya.”

Ewan spent time chatting with all parents and later treated families, staff and volunteers to an impromptu singsong in the lounge area.

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Speaking after the visit, Ewan said: “I was delighted to return to Rachel House in Kinross to meet some of the children and families supported by the charity and hear first-hand about the amazing work CHAS does to help families of children with life-shortening conditions, not just in Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch, but right across Scotland.

“It was also a privilege to meet the wonderful staff and volunteers at the hospice."

CHAS also gave thanks to the actor, “a long-time friend”, having first established a relationship with the charity when Rachel House first opened in the 1990s.

The good cause has just launched its The Way We Care Appeal, which celebrates the dedication of CHAS nurses who have contributed more than 80,000 hours of specialist care over the last year.