Stewart Spence, was educated in Aberdeen at Ashley Road Primary School and Robert

Gordon College. He opted for a career in the hospitality industry in 1962, at the tender age of 15, as a trainee chef in Aberdeen. The first six years of his career was spent with British Transport Hotels.

During the first decade of his career in the hospitality industry he held a number of posts in his rise from Chef through to General Manager. 

In 1972, the family bought their first hotel, The Atholl Hotel and have since gone on to own 8 others. Mr Spence now owns the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, which is known as the best hotel in the region.

Mr Spence has seen Aberdeen go through the regions economic highs and the low's and has a great story to tell.