‘A lot of sad things happened at the castle, it almost needed exorcising’

The couple have enjoyed having “the immediate grounds to ourselves, and watching our beautiful rhododendron beds come into flower”. They are keen to welcome visitors to the house again as soon as possible. “We have so much space to make things safe for our guests, and the castle really is at its best when it’s busy with people enjoying the comfort of our home,” he adds.

Sir Jack is still involved in the running of both house and estate. “I’ve got a very good general manager … the three of us run it on a day-to-day basis, and my wife is very ­important – women spot the detail,” he says. The Stewart-Clarks have four children, and it is Alex, 59, who will inherit Dundas eventually. “He’s not married, yet,” says his father. “But we have a family trust. You’ve got to be flexible in this day and age.”

Sir Jack has had a varied life. After Eton, he joined the Coldstream Guards and served in North Africa, before being recruited to the family business, later joining Philips, before being elected to the European Parliament in 1979.

He met Lady Stewart-Clark, born Lydia Loudon, in Amsterdam, and they married in 1958. “I’ve been remarkably blessed,” he says. “Lydia and I have been married for 61 years, and I’m still in love.” The couple have lived all over the world, but Scotland is home. He adds: “I’ve clocked up 90 now, and people say, ‘are you retired?’ Good gracious me, no!”