Tributes paid to former Inverness waitress
A POPULAR Inverness waitress has died after a short illness.
Gina Matheson (43) worked at the Castle Restaurant in Castle Street for more than 20 years before taking up a job at Tesco a few years ago.
Ms Matheson had a son Daniel Fraser (23) and two daughters, twins Amy and Abby Fraser.
Amy (21) said: “At one time my mum and my sister and me all worked in the snack bar, as she called it, at the Castle.
“We had such good fun working together. Like her, we started there when we were 13 or 14. My mum really enjoyed being at the Castle and it is probably where everyone knew her from.
“She had time for everyone and over the years she must have served thousands of people – she was a real character and everyone seemed to know her.”
Ms Matheson was born in Inverness and lived her whole life in Raigmore. An animal-lover, she adopted a puppy last October, who she called Dolly.
Amy continued: “She loved to feed everyone, not only at work but at home as well. She was a really bubbly person and everyone just got on with her.
“Since she died we have had so many messages of support, cards and flowers. We only lost my grandpa last April, so this is very hard for my gran to take in, so all the support from everyone is appreciated.”
Gina’s mum Lillian Matheson described her daughter as “an Inverness lady through and through”. She added: “I only wish she had really known how loved she was.”
Ms Matheson, of Ashton Crescent, worked at the Castle with its former owners the Liptons. She started at the busy city centre eatery while she was still at school before taking on a full-time job.
Gayle MacRae, who also worked at the Castle before leaving school, said: “She was my best friend and one in a million. She had time for everyone.
“She always had a smile on her face and that is why she knew so many people.
“We grew up together in Raigmore and she even came on holidays with my family. She was a ray of sunshine and will be missed by so many people.”
Ms Matheson is survived by her partner Gary Farquhar – a former Caley Thistle, Nairn, St Johnstone and Fort William footballer – and her three children.
