News > 2009

 “IF YOU DIE DOING THAT THEN WHAT A WAY TO GO” – SIR JACKIE STEWART ON HIS RACING CAREER

 CUIDE RI CATHY – SIR JACKIE STEWART

Sir Jackie Stewart 

In an exclusive interview for BBC ALBA, three times Formula 1 champion, Sir Jackie Stewart reveals that the day he retired was “the saddest day” and outlines that the biggest disappointment of his whole sporting career was not making the Olympics for shooting.

 Pulling out of what would have been his 100th race, out of respect for his team mate François Cevert, who died in front of him, Sir Jackie Stewart believes God gave him a “slap on the face” and made him realise not to take anything for granted. “Although this was the saddest day, it drove home to me that it was time for me to be going out at that part of my life.”   

 Cathy MacDonald spends a day with Sir Jackie Stewart for her latest programme in the Cuide ri Cathy series for BBC ALBA, as he travels to the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle, to make a presentation on dyslexia and how to handle it when working in the police force.

 President of Dyslexia Scotland, Sir Jackie Stewart only found out he had the learning difficulty in his 40’s. Remembering that day vividly, Sir Jackie Stewart said: “I thought I had been saved from drowning because suddenly a man told me I wasn’t stupid.”

 Sir Jackie Stewart can’t recite the alphabet, not even for a £1m and although he stands next to the Queen on a fairly regular basis, he does not know the words to the national anthem, always being a word or two behind.    

 The racing driver never set out to be a world champion and outlines that the biggest disappointment of his whole sporting career was not making the Olympics for shooting. Sir Jackie shot for Scotland and Great Britain and unfortunately, on the day of his 21st birthday, only missed being in the Olympic team by one point.

 Shooting was an expensive sport and one he retired from when he got married, but outlines……..“what a stupid mistake that was economically as marriage is considerably more expensive than anything to do with shooting. So I had to become a racing driver to afford marriage, and win three championships and 27 Grand Prix and I’m still behind in payments……..you girls are expensive.”    

 Speaking affectionately about his wife Helen who he’s been married to for 46 years, and his family with two sons and soon to be a total of nine grandchildren, family is the single most important part of Sir Jackie Stewart’s life.

 Sir Jackie Stewart reveals that he’s not a big church goer but if he passes an open door, be it a Church of Scotland, Synagogue or Mosque, he will always go in and pray, thanking for what’s happened, his family and what he’s got as it’s not been his doing, it’s been someone else’s.   

CUIDE RI CATHY will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 16 March at 22.00 and is available on Sky channel 168 & Freesat channel 110.