The two-time Oscar winner and global heart-throb took time out on a recent visit to Scotland to pass on Christmas greetings to the 1,200 people who work at the College.

George’s short message has been passed on to staff via the staff intranet and is now available for the world to enjoy - click below to watch the video:

The remarkable coup was organised by two of the College’s Greenock-based staff, media lecturer Campbell Gray and David Donaldson, a media technician.  Campbell and David were the only two members of the media given access to Social Bite, a social enterprise café which Clooney visited during his trip to Edinburgh last month.

Campbell explains:

“The café owners wanted a record of the visit and through contacts I was approached to organise it. On the day, the place was packed and really buzzing with excitement.  It was great to be the only media there."

I suppose I was a bit cheeky asking George to record a message for West College Scotland but he was delighted to oblige.  In fact, he gave us two takes – just in case the first didn’t work!  Now, that is class!

Cameraman David said:

“George Clooney is absolutely charming.  He was great with us and with the staff at the café and obviously has a deep commitment to the type of work Social Bite does in helping homeless people.”

David’s exclusive pictures were used by TV stations around the world.

Every news outlet was desperate for our pictures of one of the biggest stars on the planet. We teamed up with Sky News who sent them to London and then beamed them to TV networks across the globe.

"I only realised how big the story was as I sat in the Sky News satellite van knowing my pictures were about to go round the world!"

Campbell says it’s a day they’ll never forget.

“It was a really memorable occasion, both in a professional and a personal sense. David and I are really proud of what we did and we hope all our colleagues at West College Scotland enjoy the Christmas message we brought back.”

West College Scotland Principal Audrey Cumberford agrees:

“Well done to Campbell and David for their initiative and professionalism.  It’s a great boost and a wonderful way for West College Scotland to end another successful year.

WCS media technician David Donaldson stands at the back, video recording Clooney oustide of Social Bite