IN PICTURES: COMEDIAN BILLY CONNOLLY ACCEPTS BAFTA AWARD FROM HIS KEY WEST HOME

Scottish comedian and actor Sir Billy Connolly records an acceptance speech at the Key West Garden Club upon receiving a British Fellowship award from the British Academy of Film & Television Arts.

White hair and a thick Scottish brogue filled the Key West Garden Club last week, when Scottish comedian, actor, musician and artist Sir Billy Connolly filmed an acceptance speech for an award he received from the British Academy of FIlm & Television Arts. 

Born in a tenement apartment in Glasgow, Scotland, Connolly worked as a welder before becoming a folk singer. In the 1970s, he became a stand-up comedian, topping many UK polls as one of the greatest comedians of all time. As an actor, he performed in films such as  “Indecent Proposal” (1993), “Pocahontas” (1995), “Muppet Treasure Island” (1996), “Mrs Brown” (1997) (for which he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role), “The Boondock Saints” (1999) and others. 

Connolly, 79, retired in 2018 when his Parkinson’s disease had progressed. He and his wife, Pamela Stephenson, bought a house in Key West in 2016 and now live here full-time.

Connolly’s acceptance speech will be shown when the BAFTA Awards presentation is televised in the UK and around the world. 

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.