T H E C A R N E G I E C L U B B E N O L I V E R Clubhouse manager I manage the Clubhouse on Skibo’s golf course. It’s a fantastic place to relax after a round of golf, enjoy a drink and some hearty food, or just sit back and enjoy looking over the surrounding landscape. I think the view from the Clubhouse is one of the best in Britain. You can see the weather rolling in from miles away, mountains, trees, the sea, incredible sunsets and local wildlife including otters and ospreys. The team also look out for golfers finishing the course so we can greet them with a glass of their favourite drink as they leave the green – it’s a special touch guests really enjoy. Building relationships with guests is one of the best parts of the job, as is the opportunity to continue learning. Since I joined the team in 2004, I have always been encouraged to attend courses on wine, food and whisky. In that time, I’ve gone from being a steward to a butler to a supervisor and now the Clubhouse manager. It has been a brilliant 14 years. S H I R L E Y S M A R T Outdoor activities instructor I help with a variety of outdoor activities at Skibo, from clay pigeon and game shooting to fishing, archery and quad biking. Spending time outside, in the pristine landscape surrounding Skibo, is such a pleasure. Of all the activities, shooting is probably my favourite – I compete in shooting and it’s a real passion of mine. We get guests of all ages and abilities trying clay pigeon shooting and I think my being a woman encourages other women who haven’t shot before to give it a go. I also really enjoy quad biking with guests, taking them to magical spots on the estate you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. I’m lucky that my hobbies overlap completely with what I do at Skibo – I shoot, hill walk and train my gun dogs, Hector, Oscar and Bentley (all Labradors), who also come to work with me and make fast friends with everyone they meet. – 7 1 – P E O P L E CHAR AC TER S OF THE CASTLE Meet the people working their magic on the estate to ensure the Skibo experience is truly spectacular each and every time WORDS Jane Fulcher PHOTOGRAPHY Charles Leek S H E R R I E P E M B E R T O N Garden supervisor I look after a team of people who take care of all the gardening requirements on the estate, from working in the vegetable gardens and greenhouses to maintenance and all projects big and small. The variety of my work at Skibo has to be one of the best things about it – I could be tending to the baby veg in the morning and working on the project to restore the castle’s walled garden in the afternoon. When I arrived at Skibo a few years ago, the walled garden wasn’t in great shape, but we’ve planted vegetables and an apple orchard on one half of it and the other half will be a formal garden for guests to walk round and enjoy, which should be ready next year. Skibo gives our fantastic garden team free rein and is willing to invest in projects on the estate – it really is the perfect garden job and I wouldn’t work anywhere else. Skibo is made extra special by its exceptional people. Our team keep the castle running, ensure guests are happy by providing an outstanding service and make The Carnegie Club a unique and welcoming place to visit. Here, three members of staff share their experience and highlights of working at the castle. – 7 0 –