The Clan Rattray Society 1993-2003

Celebrating 10 Years!

A article by the Clan Society's North American Representative, Keith Rattray

Greetings to all members and non-members of the Clan Rattray Society! Year 2003 marks the tenth anniversary of the formation of the Clan Rattray Society, when, in August of 1993, a group of Rattrays came together at the Dalrulzion House (once a Rattray home) and discussed the possibility over dinner.

As I recall, those in attendance were Captain James Rattray, the then 28th Chief of Clan Rattray, Major Peter Rattray, his three sons, James, Rulzion and Hugh, as well as Norman Rattray and myself, Keith Rattray, both from Canada. A lively, friendly discussion took place during the course of the evening and it was resolved to begin putting together, for the first time, a Clan Rattray Society. As they say...the rest is history.

From that small beginning evolved an annual newsletter "The Journal", the first-ever world Gathering of Rattrays in 1996, a tremendously successful event with Rattrays and their kin from virtually every continent! New friendships were forged and the Internet became even busier as emails passed back and forth. Dr. Charles (Charley) Bird, the volunteer genealogist for the Clan Rattray Society became steadily inundated with new Rattray family information and queries from around the globe.

Today, his database contains over 31,000 Rattray listings and continues to grow. It was during the Annual General Meeting of the Clan Rattray Society, during the second world Gathering, in 2000, that a lifetime membership in the Clan Rattray Society was conveyed upon "Charley". His ongoing efforts are sincerely appreciated. As was the case during the first world Gathering in 1996, the second, in 2000, was also a tremendous success.

For those who may wonder about the four-year cycle between Gatherings, there are two main reasons for this. Firstly, the organization for a Gathering, by the few Society officers based in Scotland, requires considerable effort, time and dedication. Secondly, it is felt that a four-year cycle permits Rattrays from afar to plan ahead, given the distance and expense involved. As so, we now look foeward with enthusiasm and excitement to the Gathering 2004! Ongoing details will be available by viewing the Clan Rattray Society website: http://www.clanrattray.org

Now, a word about the website, which had a modest beginning on the Internet, as I recall, in 1997 and established, for the time time, an official Clan Rattray Society presence on the Internet. During the 2000 Gathering, Scott Rattray, of Ottawa, Canada, offered to become the webmaster of the site. His kind offer was unanimously approved and Scott moved forward to renovate and upgrade the existing site to what, today, is both attractive to the eye and informative to the mind. The response, especially the Guestbook, is steady and growing and the site has become the "world wide web" link for Rattrays and their kin from around the world. As is the case with Charley, David is another enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of the Clan Rattray Society. Scott, well done!

It is the Guestbook which keeps me busy, from time to time, responding via email to those who have signed in, encouraging them to become members of the Clan Rattray Society and to contact Charley to submit their family data, again a demonstration of how the Clan Rattray Society website is providing the means for RattrayS around the world to contact each other, communicate with each other and to meet together at a subsequent Gathering. Remember, 2004!!!

On a personal note, we keep busy here at Ceilidh Stables (what a fitting name for a riding establishment) where 17 horses and some 24 riding students do their "thing" twelve months of the year. The Scottish influence is further punctuated by flying the Saltire from atop the 30-foot flagpole. Given the literal translation of Ceilidh to be a gathering or party place, the atmosphere is always exactly that, with adults, teens and youngsters coming together in a common interest, the equestrian sport of the English riding discipline, the Hunter/Jumper...no "cowboys" here! Since Ceilidh Stables was created in the Spring of 1997, the level of success in competitions has been very gratifying, including appearances, in 2000 and 2002, at the Horse Show of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, held each November, in Toronto.

My wife Georgina, our riding instructor Karen, and I extend to everyone the very best for 2003 and we especially look forward to 2004 when one of our senior riders, Jackie Walker, who will be 18, plans to participate both in the Bowmore Horse Show at Blair Castle and the Rattray Gathering.

Slainte!

Andrew "Keith" Rattray