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While a comparatively small clan, Rattrays have excelled in a number of endeavours including sports, business, arts & science, and public service. This section of the Clan Rattray Website highlights members of our clan that have made a notable contribution to their profession or community or achieved a noteworthy level of success in their pursuits. If you would like to suggest a Rattray that you would like to see included, send information to clanrattray@yahoo.ca .
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Mark Rattray (New Zealand) - Wine Maker Most schoolboys, from the days before television, dreamed of becoming a fireman or a cop, so it is hard to imagine that any young kid from a non-wine background would ever dream of becoming a winemaker? But young Cantabrian, Mark Rattray, used to fantasise over what he was would one day call his vineyard. Mark Rattray, the co-owner of Floating Mountain, with his wife Michelle, was one of the first professional winemakers to recognise the potential of the Waipara Valley. He and Michelle purchased their vineyard – originally planted by former Cabinet Minister Derek Quigley – in 1988. Originally part of Waipara Springs Estate, it was later renamed Mark Rattray Vineyards, and then later again evolved into Floating Mountain (from Maukatere, the Maori name for nearby Mount Grey, which sometimes appears to float above the clouds). In spite of its small size, Floating Mountain exports to several countries including Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Denmark, America and the U.K. where, in 1995, at London's International Wine Challenge, Mark Rattray's 1993 Pinot Noir was the only New Zealand red to win a gold medal. New Zealand's wines have been widely recognized for their exceptional flavour but Floating Mountain has added richness, complexity, texture and longevity. The endless quest for excellence continues. www.floatingmountain.com
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David Rattray (South Africa) - Historian David Rattray was a self-taught historian and became an internationally renowned expert on the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879; as a prominent figure in South African tourism, he was instrumental in putting the remote battlefields of the eastern province of KwaZulu Natal on the tourist map.The battle of Isandlwana on January 22 1879 was arguably the most humiliating defeat in British colonial history; hours later, at Rorke's Drift, 139 British soldiers successfully defended their garrison against an intense assault by 3,000 Zulu warriors. Rattray interpreted Isandlwana as a Zulu triumph rather than as a British disaster, tempering history-book accounts with authentic testimony he had personally collected from the Zulu side. A fluent Zulu-speaker, Rattray deconstructed the gung-ho version of events that had informed the empire's children for more than a century and infused it with fizzing anecdotes drawn by him from the grandchildren of Zulu survivors, now working the land as farmhands and goatherds. "To listen to David Rattray narrate the story of Isandlwana was akin to watching the best-scripted, best-directed and best-produced movie Hollywood's finest studios could put out," one South African commentator recalled. "It was goose-bump stuff." More than anyone else, Rattray established battlefield tours as a mainstay of the South African tourist industry. He kept snakes on the terrace at Fugitives' Drift for the benefit of guests; he also created a game reserve as part of his lodge complex, and welcomed many dignitaries there, including Prince Philip, the Oppenheimers, the trades union leader Cyril Ramaphosa and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. In 1997 Rattray met the Prince of Wales when the Prince and his two sons took a short holiday at Fugitives' Drift following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales; Rattray was subsequently invited to Balmoral as the personal guest of the Prince and was invited by him to attend the private funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002. David Rattray was murdered in 2006 by intruders who shot him in his family quarters at Fugitives' Drift. He is survived by his wife Nicky and three sons.
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Dewar-Rattray Whiskey - Scotland Founded by Andrew Dewar and William Rattray in 1868, A Dewar Rattray began trading as an importer of French wines, Italian spirits and olive oil. More importantly, however, the company also established itself as a specialist in the field of blending and storage of malt and grain whiskies.
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Rattray Marsh - (Ontario, Canada) Ok, obviously not a "Rattray" but something worth celebrating. Secured in 1972, and officially opened in 1975, Rattray Marsh represents many things to its visitors. Some remember how it was saved from the developer who planned to fill it in and build homes, while others remember it as a living classroom where they came for guided tours to learn about nature. Plant life is abundant and beautiful at the marsh. Rattray is home to a large variety of wildflowers, which include Ontario 's large-flowered trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit and the red-berried nightshade. There is also numerous tree species including oak, birch, willow, hemlock, ash and maple. Although bird life at the marsh constantly changes throughout the seasons, bird watchers relish in sighting the ever-present wood warbler, eastern kingbirds, tree swallows, grey catbirds, and spotted sandpipers. Wading birds delight in the marsh and creek habitat of Rattray. Look for black-crowned night herons, green-backed herons and great blue herons during your visit. Wildlife within the marsh includes rabbits, beaver, deer and occasionally foxes. Other creatures include the vocal spring peeper, American toad, turtles, snakes and more.
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Kyle Rattray (Canada)- Wakeboarder Over the past five seasons Kyle Rattray has quietly gone about his business wakeboarding, constantly progressing and motivating himself to little attention. Rattray is now at the next phase in his career, where his commitment to the sport will reflect in his results around the world. On just his first season on the Mastercraft Pro Wakeboard Tour last season Rattray ended up top 25, ahead of some higher-profile names. His solid season made him a finalist for Rookie of the Year honours on the PWT. He made his first pro finals at Wakestock, but just missed the podium and arguably should have been there. This season he will travel the world again, and humbly represent Canada and Ontario. In the past few years Canada has produced some solid rock stars, but Ontario has not. Rattray hopes to follow the likes of Kovak, Sharpe, Henshaw, Malinoski, and only time will tell if his career can equal those top names. His dedication to the sport, hard-working attitude, and focus on his goals is what will get him there, and his fun approach to coaching, which brings him to Lake Muskoka each summer, will be his legacy no matter how he fares in competition. For more on Kyle, visit here for a full interview. |
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Jennifer Rattray (Canada) - Broadcaster Former host of CBC's Now (West), Jennifer enjoyed a sucessful career as a broadcaster with Canada's national network. Jennifer resigned from CBC in 2004 and is now Director of Strategic Initiatives at the University of Winnipg. |
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Celine Rattray (England)- Co-CEO Plum Productions
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Alan Rattray (Scotland ) - Professional Footballer Longest serving member and captain of the Forfar Athletic Football in Scotland's second division, Alan Rattray's determination, hard tackling and use of the ball is second to none. A native of Dundee, Alan has played with Forfar since 1999. (click here for more) |
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Kyle Rattray (United States) - Cyclist, Fundraiser "Forty-five days, 3300 miles, 25 flat tires and we are DONE" Sophomore Kyle Rattray was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 3. Now cured, he's volunteering in an MIT research lab to help find a cure for others. He also established the MIT Cancer Society, has completed a cross-country bike ride to raise money for cancer research, and volunteers at a Boston home offering shelter and support to cancer patients and their families. (click here for more)
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Tyla Rattray (South Africa) - Motocross Racer Determination. Hard work. Single-minded pursuit of excellence. These are all concepts that describe Tyla Rattray, going a long way to explain why the South African teenager is rated as one of the top motocross riders in the world today. (click here for more) "I am really happy to have discovered the clan Rattray organisation, which gave me endless hours of pleasure reading about the history of my ancestors, and the doings of fellow Rattrays all over the world. My thanks to the members of the clan society for placing a feature about me on the website. Please visit my website for the latest news on my world championship campaign in 2004. I wish all the clan members the very best, and hope to meet as many of you as possible at the next clan gathering" - Tyla Rattray |
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