After the Royal Wedding...

What's not to like about the Royal Family? The wedding gave the nation a big boost of feel good. We all need that at the moment.

Unfortunately, I was on a plane to Berlin for youngest son's stag so I missed the wedding of the year; but that's another story.

 

In the eighties I was appointed General Manager of a new Scottish development called Craigendarroch. It was very exciting because it was my first opening of a new hotel. But it wasn't just a hotel. It had a hotel, time share lodges, ski slope, spa, fine and casual dining, and a stunning location. The developer left me to get on with it and for over 6 months pre opening, I had a wonderful time assembling a team from scratch and carefully spending an Aberdonian's money.

 

Once launched we had many VIP's there including Sir Alex Fergusson who at the time was managing Aberdeen. Gordon Jackson and Sue Cook were in the promotional video.

 

But the real knee trembler was the fact that we had Balmoral up the road. Diana wanted to use our pool because there wasn't one at Balmoral. So we had to close the club when Fergie, Diana, the Princes and Princesses came to play.

 

My boss wanted me to not bank the cheque when the membership fee came, he was going to frame it. Of course Prince Charles didn't sign it so it went in the bank instead. I recall how Fergie and Diana had a game of chicken, with two cars racing through the car park. First to reach the single lane exit was the winner. Guess who won?