The Millers bought Durno House in 1987 and moved up to Banff in 1998. Kate was born and bred in Aberdeen, but has lived abroad since 1975, first in Germany then in Switzerland, where she moved with Tom in 1979, when he accepted a position as bassoonist in the city orchestra of Winterthur, near Zürich. He is still playing there, dividing his time between Switzerland and Scotland .

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Tom has also lived a large part of his life abroad, beginning his musical career in Austria. He then played in Germany, before moving to Switzerland.

Tom and Kate are both fluent German speakers,
and Kate can speak French, but does not get much practice!

Kate is a primary school teacher, also qualified to teach music, still teaching sometimes when she has time.