Report from Chris Smith
Big Cats Could Await Big Yin
By Kirsten Binnie in the Aberdeen Press & Journal, February 27 th 1998
Big Yin Billy Connolly may be sharing his new North-east home with big cats. Sightings of the black beasts have been reported just a few miles from the plush mansion the star has bought in Strathdon.
The comedian has splashed out more than £500,000 to buy the 15-bedroom Candacraig House from Body Shop founder Anita Roddick and her husband, Gordon. He is expected to move with his wife, Pamela, and their three children to the house once they have sold Gruntfuttock Hall in Windsor.
A naturalist who lives in the Strathdon area says Connolly could count some large feline friends amongst his neighbours. The man, who did not want to be named, said he sighted two of the cats within days of each other in the woods near the village.
"They were not out-size pussy-cats but animals the size of Alsations and larger. I have only seen them at dusk. I saw two different cats within a week of each other."
His sightings were just three miles from Candacraig House. They have been backed up by accounts from other locals who have seen the beasts.
"I was out spying for deer and the only reason I saw the cats was that there hadn't been very many people in the woods for a long time. They were simply not expecting me to be there."
His story has caused a few raised eye-brows in the tiny settlement. "I have told them the story on a few occasions and had a few sceptical looks - people can jeer all they want," he said.
"There is a huge area there where only shepherds and gamekeepers only set foot in and some of the gamekeepers will have seen it."
Black cats have been reported all over the North-east. One leading feline expert says the sightings are wishful thinking. Dr. Hans Kruuk said: "It is like Nessie. There is no real evidence that something is there but we would like to think that there is."
Aberdeen Press & Journal, February 27 th 1998
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