World-famous British actress and activist Joanna Lumley has been announced as absolutely fabulous guest speaker for a north-east football club’s annual fundraising event.
She will discuss her life and work at Inverurie Loco Works FC’s business lunch later this month.
The Highland League side has made a special effort to attract inspirational female speakers to the event since its launch in 2009.
Judy Murray, the mother of Scots tennis ace Andy Murray, spoke at the lunch last year, whilst other star guest have included double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes and broadcaster Clare Balding.
Former model Ms Lumley is famed for her roles as Patsy Stone in the TV comedy series Absolutely Fabulous and Purdey in the secret agent serial The New Avengers.
She also appeared in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, two Pink Panther films and Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.
Most recently she starred in hit film Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
However, off-camera she is also an author and human rights activists, having been one of the figureheads for the Gurkha Justice Campaign.
The movement fought for the UK Government to change its legislation so that Gurkhas who served in the British Army were offered the right to live in the UK, even if they retired before 1997.
Ms Lumley’s father was a major in the Gurkha Rifles.
She also advocates animal rights groups and Survival International, which campaigns to protect the rights of indigenous tribes and uncontacted people across the world.
The sold-out business lunch was established to raise funds for the football team.
Loco Works committee member, Graeme Hay, said: “We get about 400 people along. This year we have probably got our highest profile speaker.
“We started it seven years ago with the purpose of raising badly-needed funds for a Highland League football team, but also to attract high-profile women to speak at the event.
“Between 30% and 40% of our audience are women. We sought her out. It was just because of her life, both through TV and everything she does off-camera as well.
“Having spoken with her last week, she is really excited about coming to Aberdeen. I don’t know if she has ever been to Aberdeen before.”
Rugby coach Willie Allan will also speak at the event, which will take place at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa on November 11.
