Meet Mark Wellburn
As House Manager at Glamis Castle, Mark knows exactly what’s going on in the castle on a day-to-day basis, including staffing rotas, maintenance issues, and even hosting America's First Lady.
“Everybody gets a smile and friendly welcome when they come to Glamis.”
Tell us a bit about your role at Glamis Castle?
“I am in charge of the daily running of the castle. Everything, from maintenance projects to bringing in tours and recruiting the tour guides. I do all sorts of things every day!”
How long have you worked here?
“I came here 25 years ago to be the Castle Superintendent – pretty posh! I’d just left the army and saw the opportunity to work here advertised. I got the job and at the time I thought it would just be a temporary position. Maybe a year/year and a half and then I was going to move on. I’ve been here 25 years now!”
What would you say is unique about what you do?
“Every day is different. Not only that, it’s a bit like having two jobs – one for the summer and one for the winter. During the winter, I’m working much more behind the scenes getting the castle ready for the open season. Then, once the castle opens for the summer, I’m working with the general public and looking after visitors more. I’ve also seen many important people visit the castle which is pretty unusual including the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince Edward and the late Queen Mother.”
Do you have any interesting stories from your time at Glamis?
“During the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in 2005, Glamis Castle welcomed a group of ladies who were the wives of world leaders. There was Cherie Blair and Barbara Bush to name a few. It was a real highlight of my career because I dealt with so many people from all over the world in the run up and during their visit. People from each of the leaders’ Embassies came in advance to check the castle before their arrival. I worked with our police, the FBI and even Sheriffs were involved. It was very full on, but fascinating to be a part of.”
What can visitors expect when they visit Glamis?
“Glamis has a lot to offer historically. The tours take visitors through the history of the Strathmore family and the connections to Kings and Queens in the past. For visitors, everybody gets a smile and friendly welcome when they come to Glamis. We love to chat with visitors and meet people from all over the world to hear about what brought them here.”
What do you think makes Glamis so special?
“It’s not just the actual castle and gardens, but us – the staff! Our team put their heart and soul into the place. They feel like it’s their own home and that really comes across to people when they come to visit.”
To book a tour and find out more about visiting Glamis Castle, click here.
