Winning hotel manager’s roots are entrenched in Toti

Ex-Toti resident, Jody Marshall has won the Scottish Hotel Manager of the Year award.

Jody, who is an ex-Warner Beach Primary School pupil and Kingsway High School prefect, has been the general manager at Ballathie House Hotel, which is located on the banks of the River Tay in Perthshire, Scotland.

“This is the pinnacle of my personal achievement. To be nominated and named as the best Scottish hotel manager is just amazing,” said Jody, who attributes hard work, teamwork and treating everyone as an equal with the same responsibility in the same vision as the secret to his success.

Jody’s parents moved from Toti in 2009 and now live in Peebles, Scotland.

He has been in Scotland for seven years.

Jody was a lifeguard on Toti beach for many years and captained the Natal lifesaving team for four years.

“I competed in numerous canoeing events and long-distance ski races. I was also a member of Toti Rugby Club for 10 years.

Toti is and will always be home. I remember lantana bushes on Beach Road, vervet monkeys and hadedas waking me up before school. I remember learning Zulu and trying to pronounce Ipahla Station, the sardine run and catching shad.

I miss the smiling faces, people saying ‘howzit bru’ and ‘kiff’. The vegetable sellers next to Toti train station. I miss the smell of the salt air. I miss seeing so many rusted cars. I feel home sick. I miss being home.

My wife’s family are from Montclair. I miss them all immensely.

My wife has been the foundation on which I have built my career. Without her strength and moral support in raising our daughter, Bella, I would never have achieved any of this.

I have been fortunate in winning a few more awards. I won restaurant of the year in 2011. We went on to win the best employers in hospitality for 2012. We also won the big one, which is the 2012 Scottish hotel of the year. I was working at a small place called the Summer Isles Hotel in a town called Achiltibuie, where I was the general manager.

Last year I won the Rising Star Hotelier of the Year. This year Ballathie House Hotel won 11 huge awards – the most of any Scottish hotel in the history of the awards. I am living the dream with an amazing, international team.”

Toti, though is always in Jody’s thoughts.

“I speak to many school friends occasionally. Toti is in our blood, we are family. It is amazing how, when one of us goes down with illness and we have not spoken for 10 years, how we all just pull together.

I am proud my roots are in Toti.”