The new version is titled, 'The Balbirnie House Constitution', and as well as defining how our systems operate, it's also brimming with history, anecdotes, facts, and many brand new components of the future, based on our groundbreaking capabilities to enhance what we do, via our new digitalised ecosystem.
In total, we're at 90 digitalised pages A4, and the overview will update our entire brigade, as well as providing a comprehensive introduction for those who are new to the hotel in the future.
The publication will be Copyrighted.
Currently formatted as a developmental prototype, final review and 'refining input' is from our management team, but such has been the initial response to how we have concluded the Constitution, we're going to deliver that finish here today, as a Blog post:
THE DEFINING IMAGE OF BALBIRNIE HOUSE
Have you watched the movie ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ … ?
If you have, you’ll know that it’s about Walter Mitty working in the photography department of LIFE magazine, tracking elusive photographer Sean O’Connell, who apparently has in his possession, one single, totally incredible photograph, to be used for the final issued copy of the magazine.
Only to discover, in the final seconds of the movie, that the photo is actually of Walter Mitty himself, sitting studying potential photographs.
It is a story about people who are absolutely committed to their chosen professions. And we’ve certainly seen many of those over the years at Balbirnie House.
Dedicated to the People Who Made It.
Here is our version.
In-house Piper Ian Sword played at 1,241 weddings at Balbirnie House.
And retired, age 81, October 2017.
After Ian had piped his final newly-wedded couple to the top table, our brigade very purposefully made no grand gestures, and the GM ensured he was not even personally present to say Goodbye.
Because, the GM then telephoned Ian at home, saying ‘Ian, you are not done. We knew you would not be done, and that is why we didn’t say goodbye. We need you back, and this time it will indeed be the final piping at Balbirnie House. We would be honoured in the extreme, if you would play the pipes, as the brigade enters our brand new Drawing Room, to see the most incredible artwork collection ever gifted to a hotel in Scotland, for the very first time. It’s our 2017 project of the year! Wildflowers, Balbirnie – and it celebrates our first quarter century as a hotel!’
The Golden Ribbon was there, ready to be cut.
That day arrived. Friday 13th October 2017.
The 13th chosen specifically, to represent good luck.
In advance, we asked Ian to arrive early that morning, and asked if he would care to help us by having his photograph taken, whilst the day’s professional photographer was ‘warming up’, for the day’s formal photo sessions. Ian agreed to that.
We took this photo:
And then this one:
Ian was not aware that the photographer was one of the most accomplished in the land, Ken Paterson – Scotland’s photographer for The New York Times.
Ian was not aware that over previous days, the GM had discussed and met with Ken Paterson, visualising together … how to endeavour to capture what would become THE DEFINING IMAGE, of a quarter century of Balbirnie House.
So, that morning we then sat Ian down inside the hotel, and had a coffee.
The GM talked of Memories of Ian piping over the years.
And then talked about how those who are no longer with us, would have been incredulous at Ian’s 1,241 weddings at Balbirnie House.
We could see that Ian was rather emotional, as we were as well, now fully realising that this was indeed, to be his final time piping at Balbirnie House.
And for those of us on duty that day, it was to be such an incredible honour for us, to see Ian play for the final time.
Think of it. We then thanked Ian, on behalf of the 1,241 couples.
Not one single client ever let down, every single client absolutely delighted, every single occasion personalised for the couple.
Such an incredible achievement, which would later receive a Motion of Congratulations in Scotland’s Parliament.
That morning we then got an iPad out and considered this image, of Ian Sword front row as a young lad, in The Kinglassie and District Pipe Band. Incredible. Ian was so very proud to be reminded of the photo.
And then Ian playing at his first wedding. Incredible. By now, Ian was lost for words.
At this point Ken very casually, and nonchalantly asked Ian and the GM if they would be so kind as to act as the ‘photo models for a few minutes’ to help him focus his cameras, for the photoshoots which were scheduled for later that morning.
Ian and the GM said, ‘No problem at all!’
And this is where we arrive at the difference between pointing a camera to take a photograph, and pointing a camera to capture a piece of magic.
Every piece of this was planned. And for the record it took us 43 photos, to get to the final result.
Photo of pipes and a whisky, to help show Ian that ‘nothing unusual was going on’ …
Change perspective and move the whisky, to get better light:
Photo with GM, to familiarise intended subject with the camera.
Goof around, ‘Are you holding your hands by your sides, why don’t you position your hands over the sporran chain?’
GM steps out of shot. Photographer asks Ian to remove piper’s hat and pipes. Asks Ian if he can remember playing at his first wedding. Click.
Hat back on, and pipes back in!
We now start heading towards the image.
‘Raise your glass and think of Scotland!’ Click.
And next, that’s when Ken Paterson captured the defining image of Balbirnie House. By asking at that point, ‘How does it feel like today, to be playing your pipes here at Balbirnie House for the final time?’ Click.
Not that Ian knew it at that point, but this next one would be:
THE DEFINING IMAGE OF BALBIRNIE HOUSE:
If you look very closely, you see the emotion of everything.
An acknowledgement of so much hard work, consistency, effort, and delivery. Lost for words, but wanting to say a million things.
An accumulated history. Absolute Scotland Hospitality.
And the continuing future in what is currently a blurred background.
Vibrant colour, contemporary light. New circumstances always, in an 18th century property. A whisky, and a sense of occasion.
Our sincere gratitude to Ian Sword and Ken Paterson.
Ian and the GM and DM Rebecca Harper then stood beside Balbirnie’s front steps, and our red carpet. Waiting to welcome Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp CEO of Business for Scotland, who would be cutting the golden ribbon on the project:
‘Ian, you know what we’ve been working on this week? Our entire Special Events Team have been going through 25 years of photographs, looking for one single image, which to us, defines Balbirnie House, our brigade, our clients, our history, distilled to the very essence of who we are, and what it feels like to work here in Scotland Hospitality. Can you imagine, one single image!!!’
‘Well Oh My Goodness Me Nicholas. What an incredible project, and I cannot wait to see which photograph they eventually choose!!!’
‘Me too!!!’
We released THE DEFINING IMAGE OF BALBIRNIE HOUSE on our social media that evening. ‘THE PIPER RETIRES’
Of course, we never told Ian Sword that he was going to become
THE DEFINING IMAGE OF BALBIRNIE HOUSE.
We left that lovely task, to Ian’s family.
AND TO FINISH:
Let’s take the story about Ian’s photo as an inspiration for all components of our future client journeys, for the next quarter century.
Let’s fully realise that we have the in-house capability to deliver truly outstanding world class Hospitality, creating incredible Memories, and recollections on unprecedented sensory levels.
Balbirnie’s brigade has accomplished remarkable things thus far.
Our blessings are counted every day.
But Today is Not a Dress Rehearsal for Tomorrow.
Best wishes to one and all,
Nicholas Russell / GM 1992, MD 2005/ Balbirnie House
*Constitution ends*
Our sincere gratitude to Archie Forrest, Scotland's leading contemporary Colourist painter. 'This is my gift to Scotland's tourism and hospitality sectors'
Our sincere thanks to Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp CEO Business for Scotland, cutting the golden ribbon.
No comments:
Post a Comment