A household name to millions for his stellar career on stage, in film, television work and as a director, he took part in ‘An Audience with David Hayman’ at the Calton Heritage and Learning Centre in London Road to mark its 12th anniversary.

The Calton Heritage and Learning Centre is the product of years of community campaigning – assisted by Thenue Housing Association - for a community hub for Calton.

It opened its doors on 1 November 2013, has been a stunning success ever since and become a focal point for a host of neighbourhood activities with the overall aim of bringing people together. The Centre is run by Thenue Communities – a subsidiary of Thenue Housing.

Hayman was born in Glasgow and has forged a remarkable career over 60 years which has taken him all over the world. But he has never forgotten his roots, including spending time at the Citizens Theatre - now happily reopened to theatregoers after a multi-million pound transformation.

He described his time at the theatre as “magical” – working as he did “ten months a year, six days a week for ten years”.

He was interviewed during the special event by broadcaster, comedian and writer Susan Morrison - best known for her popular podcasts.

Hayman said he was “delighted” to be celebrating the anniversary of the Centre, to speak about his career and focus also on his charity “Spirit Aid” which he founded in 2001.

A strong campaigner for social justice at home and abroad, Spirit Aid has undertaken remarkable work over nearly a quarter of a century.

Spirit Aid describes itself as a Scottish humanitarian relief organisation dedicated to alleviating the suffering of children and young people whose lives have been affected by poverty, neglect, abuse, lack of opportunity, humanitarian crisis or even blighted by war.

It has supported children and young people at home and abroad, helping to improve their health, education and opportunities and working in places as far away as Afghanistan and Malawi reflecting Hayman’s self confessed “love of Africa”.

At school, Hayman was described as a “daydreamer” - but his dream, which he was all too keen to fulfil, was to become an actor while working as an apprentice steel template maker.

One day, he walked into the Royal Scottish Academy Music and Drama in Glasgow - now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland -  and declared he wanted to be an actor.

He told the audience in Calton: “I never wanted to be famous – I just wanted to act.”

His commitment to nurturing and encouraging young actors remains undiminished reminding the audience that during a talk to pupils at a high school in Drumchapel where he spent time growing up, he was approached by a pupil called James McAvoy who told him he wanted to be an actor.

Recognising his zeal for acting, he “called his bluff” and cast him in a production creating a pathway to stardom for McAvoy who has gone on to become one of Scotland’s finest actors.

Earlier this year, Hayman toured Britain and Ireland to rave reviews in the long-established Arthur Miller play “Death of a Salesman” where he played the title role of Willy Loman.

Hayman revealed that early next year he plans to tour Scotland with a one-man show.

Concluding the event, Hayman and Centre Manager Rosie Robertson jointly cut a birthday cake to mark the 12th anniversary.

Rosie said: “It hardly seems like 12 years since we first opened our doors. We cannot now imagine Calton without the CHLC and over the years it has brought people together in so many ways.

“We feel very privileged to have as our guest David Hayman whose incredible career demonstrates that dreams can be achieved and whose acting prowess speaks for itself. From humble beginnings as an apprentice steelmaker he has gone on to become one of our greatest and most versatile actors not forgetting his remarkable humanitarian work.”