Meet the team
Sandra
Sandra Grant is the person you are most likely to talk to first if you ring Spartan. As Spartan Press's sales co-ordinator and credit controller, she comes to the job with previous experience in both sales and office administration in the tourism field. She deals with both Spartan Press sales, and also Strathmashie's Holiday Cottages. She lives in the village of Laggan with husband Keith and son Scott (at school with George Goddard).
Ian
Ian, from East Kilbride near Glasgow originally, takes on our new "I.T. Manager" role in November 2007. He is an experienced Linux administrator with strong 'C' programming and desktop support skills.Ian will be taking the strain 'a mid-ships' at Strathmashie: as a versatile computing 'All Rounder'. He has been known to take Associated Board piano exams.
Annette is an experienced musician who has wanted to live and work in the Highlands of Scotland for many years. She worked in the sheet music department at J. G. Windows in Newcastle for 20 years. Annette and Myke came on holiday to Strathmashie in 2003, staying in the Keeper’s Cottage as part of a Spartan Press self catering holiday promotion offer. The couple will now be moving into the Keeper’s Cottage at Strathmashie House on a permanent basis, along with their two cats!
Pat (H)
Pat Haines is in charge of our purchase ledger, and also runs the print finishing department at Spartan Press. She was designated too small to play the trumpet at school in Edinburgh, but is now working part time for both Spartan Press and the local medical practice.
Phil
Phil Goddard is Spartan's "remote" worker, who when not typesetting music for Spartan is striding the cliffs of Southern England. A latent church organist and retired Polytechnic Dean, he has embraced the new technology of the internet like a youngster.
Pat (G)
Pat Goddard was a freelance bassoonist and one of the first female musicians to join the RAF Central Band. Now a co-director of Spartan Press, working on editing, proofing, performing rights, review monitoring and contracts (in addition to running the house, organising the three children and pursuing a competitive running career). She also plays the violin.
Rupert is a trained accountant who also runs his own business organising and running short courses for emplyees of large coporations on home and car maintenance. He works part-time for Spartan in a variety of roles that utilise his administrative and practical skills.
Mark
Mark Goddard is managing director of Spartan and runs the new publications and typesetting departments as well as hindering the computer department! Trained as a composer initially, with a decade of experience teaching piano and conducting musical shows, he now enjoys the variety provided by the Spartan job: composing and arranging music interspersed with writing computer programs, debt collecting, shelf erection, beer making, recruiting and mowing, then puppy training and cobble sweeping...
Jim
Jim is in charge of all things related to stock. He relocated to the Highlands following retirement from a long career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in both Stratford-on-Avon and London. He is chairman of the Laggan Cricket Club as well as a volunteer administrator of Laggan Forest Trust. Jim (with his wife Kate) also runs the Catlodge Farmhouse bed and breakfast.
Tess
Tess Goddard is now 15 years old and is our youngest employee. Sticking labels on Spartan Press catalogues and assembling trade mail shots are her speciallity. She has had some extraordinary health problems in recent years: See latest. 'GW' is Tess's hampster - named after her favourite brand of crisps: Golden Wonder!
George
George Goddard (12) was born in Abergavenny during the "Old Brewery House" days, and one day he hopes to play rugby for Wales, although he has not as yet witnessed the sport! His real passions lie in football (training in Inverness on Fridays), Shinty (training at Newtonmore on Mondays), Ballet (Fort William on Tuesdays, Oban on Wednesdays) and the occassional Cricket net at Strathmashie.
Rose
Rose Goddard (9) was born in Inverness just as Spartan relocated to the Highlands. She shows early signs of being a fiercely good organiser (frightening actually) and spends quite a lot of time developing assertiveness skills. She is also a bit of a sweetie. Her passions are pony treking, Barbie dolls and ballet.
Merlin
Merlin the Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy arrived in April 2003. He won a rosette at Crufts, and has since been given his own dressing room with a star on the door.
Hetty
Heavy Hetty was born in March 2003 (again in Glastonbury) - the daughter of a magnificent St. Bernard called Daisy. She is Merlin's half sister, and has magnificent (if slobery) jowls!
Gael
Gael (61 months) was born the day Pat completed her first marathon: all very appropriate when considering that this 'working' border collie is destined to be Pat's running companion in the years ahead... (Merlin and Hetty just don't 'do' running!).