The 2024 Lady Scott Award is presented to Caroline Hogg at Moy Country Fair

Caroline has been the backbone of the Hogg household for over four decades, welcoming people from all walks of life into the home – not to mention dogs, ferrets and pet deer!

 

It all began when a glamorous young woman and her friend bumped into a young Alex and it was love at first sight. Caroline was training to be a dental nurse in Edinburgh while Alex was a stalker near Loch Awe: two completely different worlds. Every weekend Caroline would take multiple trains and be met by Alex, who would drive them to his house in the middle of nowhere!

 

With no internet or mobile phones, Alex would go to the phone box in the nearest village every night and phone Caroline’s mum’s house to make sure she was alright and let her know he was safely off the hill. This dedication to each other has been evident throughout their 42 year marriage, with three children and now three grandchildren.

 

Being a young mum with a young family and a gamekeeper husband wasn’t easy. When Alex mentioned starting the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Caroline was 100% behind it… little did she know how much it would impact her life.

 

From the days of the Tomatin dances, to baking for the Scone Game Fair, and Alex jetting off to all the meetings, Caroline was always there doing whatever needed to be done to keep it all going: feeding dogs, chopping kindling and keeping Alex’s feet on the ground.

Alex described Caroline as the heart of shoot days at Portmore. Her grandchildren knew her as ‘the cafe lady’ as she served a hardworking beating team for over 30 years. No one went hungry and there were always seconds.

 

Helen MJ Benson, Chief Executive Officer of the GWT, said ‘It’s been a real pleasure to see Caroline recognised in this way. All at the GWT congratulate her on this and wish Caroline and Alex many more happy years together in their retirements’.