Your Hosts at Lochearn Guest House

Matthew Duncan - (Click here for Dianne's Bio)

Matthew started cooking at the tender age of 12 with cakes, scones and biscuits made with recipes taken from the back of flour bags, progressing on to his very own copy of ‘The Be-ro Cookery Book'. When he decided that he wanted to be a Chef, he was lucky enough to obtain an apprenticeship in a top Glasgow hotel. At that time, hotels were able to offer a comprehensive training of 6 months in each department, something they are not able to offer now, so his training embraces all aspects of cookery, including butchery, which is very rare.

He gradually moved onwards and upwards until at the age of 21 years he was Head Chef at a hotel in Falkirk, then went on to become Catering Manager within the group of 3 hotels. Each hotel had function suites as well as the usual rooms, bars, restaurants and conference facilities so he became an expert on weddings and large functions. Even to this day, Matthew loves getting stuck into catering for large Buffets.

When Matthew and Dianne met they went on to have their own hotels and restaurants together. When it became obvious that none of the children wished to join them in the catering trade they began to downsize and eventually moved to the village of Lochearnhead. They have now retired, and have Lochearn House, which has 3 en suite rooms with a maximum of 6 people. They still serve Dinners, because Matthew loves cooking and their 3-day Dinner, Bed and Breakfast breaks are very popular and more and more guests are staying for their special- offer week, as there is so much to see and do in the area. Matthew and Dianne particularly love parties of 6 when the guests take over the whole place, have their own personal Chef and have a great time.

Matthew, who is a bit of a workaholic, still does outside catering, and 3/4 days a week works at other Hotels at lunch times to give the Chefs some time off. He also gives cookery lessons to parties in the winter months, teaching amongst other things, ‘simple but impressive' cookery for Dinner Parties. He loves cooking and is always making cakes, pates and chutneys to give to elderly locals and sell at the local Fairs and Fetes to raise money for the local community. Matthew also loves singing, as perhaps you will hear. He is known locally as ‘The Singing Chef'.

Dianne Watson

Dianne has been a keen embroiderer all her life, all the pictures in Lochearn House have been made by her, and the attic still holds quite a few because, as, they downsized over the years, they ran out of walls!!!! She has done embroidery, tapestry, cross-stitch and appliqué pictures as well as countless other projects.

Dianne also became interested in Patchwork and while surfing the net came across a machine, which changed her life. One of the reasons they moved to Lochearn House was for the double garage, which they converted to a Studio. She bought a Gammill Quilting System and now quilts for other patch workers who make the patchwork tops, send them to her, she puts on the backing, adds the wadding, quilts them, and sends them back.

A couple of years ago she started entering competitions and has done very well. She won a 1 st and 2 nd at the Scottish Quilt Championship for longarming the first year. This year she won 3 rd at Birmingham Festival of Quilts, the biggest quilt show in Europe . She won a 1 st and a Judge's Choice at Harrogate , The Great Northern Quilt Show, and another 1 st and 2 nd at the Scottish Quilt Championship. She was thrilled. She has appeared in quite a few magazines and articles.

During the winter months Dianne gives talks and teaches longarm quilting and basic patchwork. A lot of her customers stay for the 3-day special break of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, book in their quilt and have it quilted while they are here. She also does a monthly ‘pick up, drop off' service in Linlithgow.

There are quilts and throws which Dianne has made, available for sale, if you would like to buy any – just ask Matthew, he will be happy to show them to you.