The man set to head up the new Inverness Castle Experience has said he is delighted to have been honoured after almost a quarter of a century serving the Royal Family.
Garry Marsden (57) was appointed in September last year as head of the new attraction which is due to open at a transformed Inverness Castle later this year.
He previously worked in similar roles at the Balmoral Estate, for 16 years, and most recently at the Sandringham Estate, the King’s private residence.
He was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year Honours in recognition of his work there – while wife Kathleen, who worked as a gardener at Sandringham, has received a Silver Royal Victorian Medal.
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“I’m absolutely delighted,” Mr Marsden said of receiving his honour. “I’ve worked for the family for 23 years in a number of different roles and it’s great to have been recognised in this way.
“I’m very proud.”
He added that he was “really pleased” for his wife to be similarly recognised for her contribution, having also worked as Balmoral before taking on the gardener role at Sandringham.
“She has always loved gardening as a hobby and to have been able to turn that into a career, of all the roles she has had I think that has been her favourite,” Mr Marsden said.
The couple are due to make the move to the Highlands next week, with Mr Marsden formally stepping into his new role on January 20 and looking forward to the challenge. as well as the chance of “giving back” at this stage in his career.
“We are in the people business and that always brings challenges,” he said. “However that’s also what makes it so rewarding as a career.”
Questioned about the difference between running visitor services at the long-established Royal estates and what will be a brand new attraction, he said himself and his team at Sandringham had spent the last several years “completely transforming” the visitor experience there so he has “already been on that ‘new’ journey”.
The Inverness Castle Experience is due to open some time in the middle of this year, creating up to 90 jobs including what Mr Marsden said would be the absolutely “key” roles of visitor services manager, food and beverage manager and retail manager, all of which are being advertised as of this week.
“It’s a big opportunity for the right people and I’m looking forward to seeing those posts filled,” he said.