Within three months of taking over the business, the Trenchards had set up new agencies in France, Italy, and Spain, and very soon found that demand for their product outstripped supply. However, any profit that was being made had to be ploughed straight back into the business to upgrade its ageing equipment and meet the stringent regulations laid down by the Health and Safety Office of the Highland Regional Council. Consequently, there were no funds available for sumptuous accommodation, and for the first two years, they lived in only just bearable comfort in a three-room crofter’s cottage on the shores of Loch Eil.

“Mind you, we very rarely seemed to be at home,” says Katie. “The workers started at seven o’clock every morning and Patrick and I were always there half an hour before they arrived. During the high season, when the prawns were coming in thick and fast, the packers were producing over 10 tonnes a day, which meant that we all had to work on into the night just to keep up with our intake. Patrick and I would walk around like zombies for about four months of the year!”

Bloody fools, Dan repeated to himself. Fancy having to work hours like that and not make any money.

Katie’s involvement in the company, however, ended on the eve that Max (now 10 and pictured left) was born. Her duties then changed from office administration to child care, a task that included trying to stop the little baby from freezing to death.

“Scotland was hit by one of the severest winters ever experienced for about twenty years,” says Katie. “The only source of heat in the cottage was an ancient wood-burning range in the kitchen, which filled the room with smoke if there was even a hint of dampness on the logs. It was pure hell. I think Max spent the first six weeks of his life, day and night, cocooned in an old sleeping bag that, judging from the smell, had been at one time occupied by a family of mice. I think that was when I reached my lowest point. I just longed to be back in our old life in Plymouth.”

I bet you did, thought Dan.