An exhibition at the Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam devoted to the multi-talented and award-winning actress Tilda Swinton, runs until February. Reading about it prompted me to think back to the mid-2000s, when I got to know her slightly. Through work, her then partner, the artist and playwright John Byrne, came down from Nairn to stay in Glasgow for a few days. I’d first heard of him when I was a teenager – he was responsible for his friend Gerry Rafferty’s 1970s album covers, and later went on to write The Slab Boys trilogy and the 1987 TV series Tutti Frutti, which starred Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson.

Because Tilda was away filming one of the Narnia films and their nanny was due days off, John brought their twins, a boy and a girl. They were about six. Both were adorable with their solemn, elven faces and tangled hair which fell in waves to their waists.

John was by then in his sixties. He was tall and arty-looking, with longish hair, a carefully coiffured moustache and beard, round glasses and interesting, expensive-looking, well-worn clothes. He was also the nicest man I’d ever met: modest, quietly spoken and calm. When I offered him a second glass of wine at dinner, he refused. ‘No thanks. In the old days me and Gerry could tan a bottle of vodka on the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh, but I hardly drink........

© The Spectator