Originally from Caithness in Scotland, I have been heading south over the years, with a family move to Glasgow when I was young and then down to Derby where I left Scheel at 16 to commence on an apprenticeship in electrical engineering with Rolls-Royce Marine Power, who provided propulsion of nuclear submarines. Our sole customer being the Royal Navy soon provided opportunities to work closer with them in Bath/Bristol and then eventually to Faslane Submarine Base to join a project team providing maintenance management to the Vanguard Class submarine fleet. 

Having completed a BA Hons in business administration, this led to an opportunity within the hospitality industry and straight into hotel management.

I soon feel in love with hospitality and I was lucky enough to land my first role in Spain where I embraced the opportunity to develop a luxury 5 star property. We soon became members of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Hotel association and gained a Michelin Star in our restaurant whilst expanding the hotel to create internationally acclaimed spa facilities. After 15 years it was time to come home and I have since managed hotels in Suffolk, Cornwall, Cambridge.

The foundation of my career with Rolls-Royce remains in my heart and has been relevant throughout my hospitality career with their principles and values built during my apprenticeship for being educated by a company ‘synonymous with excellence’.

With this in mind I am now proud to be leading the only AA 5 Red Star Hotel in Sussex, the Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa.