The Georgian mansion house on the banks of Eyemouth harbour was restored to the tune of £2.4 million but its journey in being brought back to life wasn't an easy one and without the hard work of the trustees the project could well have fallen by the wayside.

Chair of the Gunsgreen House Trust, Professor Alistair Rowan, is based in Ireland and although he makes frequent trips from the Emerald Isle to ensure that everything is ship shape in Eyemouth, he said he would be pleased to welcome more locals into the fold who could be more hands on.

He commented: "Living in Ireland, it's hard for me to get across to Gunsgreen as often as I would like. Officially, I'm only required to attend a few formal meetings each year but I do try and get to Eyemouth as often as I can.

"I've been chair for 10 years now and a lot of my fellow trustees have been working on the project for a similar time.

"We feel we've done our job by saving the house and having it up and running once again and now we need some fresh blood who know a bit about business and marketing to take the project into its next phase."

As well as being a tourist attraction, boasting its own Smuggling Experience, the upper floors of Gunsgreen House are now available to rent as holiday accomodation, as is neighbouring Nisbet's Tower.

And there has already been a number of people who have rested their head in the famous John Adam-designed building, including the first couple to get married in the restored building and a party of guests who welcomed in 2010 at Gunsgreen.

The living quarters, which retain a wealth of Georgian character, can sleep up to 11 people and Alistair said he hopes that more peope will choose to stay at Gunsgreen in the near future.

The board of Trustees, which also includes Colonel Simon Furness (chairman of the Operational Management Group) David Smout, Fay Waddell, Trevor Burrows, George Miller and Colin Greive, are also keen to promote the building as a venue for parties, gatherings and confererences, having already hosted a number of meetings of Berwick Civic Society, Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce as well as painting classes and a costume ball.

There are also soon to be sinister goings on at Gunsgreen when it hosts its first Murder Mystery party in a few weeks time.

And with so much planned, Alistair said that he wanted to recruit people who could help promote Gunsgreen House both locally and further afield and help the building realise its full potential.

He continued: "I'm an Art Historian and our administrator, Derek Janes has a background of working in museums. Neither of us have the know how to run things enterpreneurally and we want people who have the ability to do that.

"The main vacancy we are looking to fill is that of treasurer and I would appeal to any local bank managers or accountants to consider getting on board.

"The role would be for a five year period and their main responsibility would be identifying where the major financial opportunities and threats lie.

"When restoration work started on Gunsgreen, pigeons had set up home in the building, there was a big problem with damp and a number of windows were broken.

"It has given me and the rest of the trustees tremendous satisfaction to bring back Gunsgreen from the brink, with great help from our architect Allan Swan and local contractors, and it will be something that I'm incredibly proud of when I'm on my death bed. We saved the building for the nation.

"I'm appealing for people who enjoy a challenge to get involved so they can get the same sense of achievement."

Derek Janes added: "People who visit the house just love it. Seeing people enjoy themselves so much is a really good feeling and we're all pretty pleased with how things are going.

"There is a great narrative to the house and as well as new trustees, it would be great to recruit local people to be volunteer guides and share Gunsgreen's colourful history with visitors."

The restoration of Gunsgreen House has been completed in three phases, the final one, completed last year, seeing new life being breathed into the top three floors of the house thanks to a financial boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

And plans for phase four are already afoot. Further work will see the re-landscaping of the venue's car park as well as the installation of seating outside. Inside, the main staircase will be decorated according to historical designs and the hall will be painted to look like stone- just as it did in the 18th century.

But for the moment, the Gunsgreen House Trust is gearing up for the building's official opening on March 24, which is sure to be a proud occasion for all concerned.

Anyone interested in playing a part in Gunsgreen's future should get in touch with Derek Janes on (018907) 52062/enquiries@gunsgreenhouse.org.