FAMILY, FITBA’ PUBS

In all, ten local hospitality businesses helped to provide lunches or evening meals. He embarrassedly admits, “Normally we wouldn’t have much to do with the competition, but the ‘Feldy Roo’ project really brought everybody together. We have good relationships today and that is another benefit.”

Julie Dunbar, the Schiehallion Hotel manager was heavily involved, and Gavin tells how important she is to his business, ”She does pretty much everything and without her, I would struggle.”

‘Feldy Roo’ project has been given many accolades, it was awarded the 2022 Scottish Charity Awards for Community Action and honoured at the Perthshire Chambers of Business Community Hero Awards. The Fountain Bar also won Greene King Pub Hero of the Year 2020. His work over the pandemic earned him a an M.B.E in 2020 for his services to the people of Aberfeldy during this time.

Says Gavin “I didn’t feel right about accepting the M.B.E. as a personal award, but my parents persuaded me that it was really an honour for the whole town. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to attend the ceremony but was delighted to receive my medal in the post.”

After the pandemic it was the Ukranian war which next took his attention. Gavin was moved to help Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country and tweeted an offer of accommodation and work for two refugees at his Schiehallion Hotel. It started a snowball effect with the whole

Aberfeldy community responding which led to the formation of the initiative Highland Perthshire Welcomes Ukraine. Gavin modestly downplays his part saying, “It just mobilised a lot of people.”

People from Aberfeldy and surrounding areas certainly opened up their hearts and homes, with more Ukrainians being welcomed to Perth and Kinross, per head of population than anywhere else in Scotland.

However now Gavin is really focussing on driving his hospitality business forward. He says, “Over the last five years, hospitality has faced a lot of challenges, one of my biggest challenges has been staffing, and I would like to see the service industry promoted more as a career choice for youngsters. It is such a big part of the economy and you can now be properly rewarded, so Scotland should be proud of how good our hospitality is.

“In both football management and hospitality you need to motivate teams of people, it’s important to have a fresh and positive attitude and that can be hard at times.”

He tells us the secret to his success, “Is to trust in folk, and know what people’s strengths are rather than worrying about their weaknesses. It’s quite important, not just in football but with regards to the business. And being able to delegate, well, that is massive for what I do.”

He employs many of the same skills in both areas but enjoys the challenge of juggling their competing demands, he says, “I don’t think I know any other way, to be honest. I have always got full days which challenge me.”