Cordwalles community mourns the passing of a legend
The Cordwalles Preparatory School is mourning the loss of one of their Old Boys, the legendary Michael Rattray, who passed away recently at the age 89.
Rattray made a significant
contribution to the school throughout his life. His financial contributions enabled the building of the school's pre-primary block in 2009. He was also a generous benefactor to the school's Mudman annual fundraiser.
Born in 1932, he attended Cordwalles
from 1941 to 1945 and was an important member of the rugby 1st team. He grew to love the outdoors and developed a passion for horses. His father gave him his first horse at the age of three.
At the age of 13, he discovered the game of polo and over the years, rose through the ranks and was selected to the Springbok team. He continued playing well into his sixties and later became the head of the SA Polo Association.
His love for horses led him into the horse racing and breeding world. Although he did not win the coveted Durban July handicap, his horses finished as runners-up on three occasions, and his stallion, Western Winter, whom Rattray had imported into South Africa, went on to sire multiple champions over the years.
In 1964, Rattray and his wife, Norma, acquired the Mala Mala Game Reserve, invoking a lifelong love and passion for animal conservation. They developed the reserve into one of the most recognised game reserves in Africa and set the standard for the photographic safari industry in South Africa.
Tragedy hit the family in 2006 when his son Andrew (class of 1977) passed away. In memory of his son, Rattray funded the building of the Andrew Rattray Pre-Primary School, which was opened in 2009. Outside the school block is a statue of a young boy, commissioned to represent Andrew as well as all young Cordwalles boys. The sculpture is named ‘Bhanoyi’ (isiZulu word for aeroplane), which was Andrew’s childhood nickname. It was given to him after Michael had to land the plane he was transporting his wife to hospital in when she went into labour. Clearly Andrew could not wait, and he was born under the wing of the plane.
A generous benefactor of Cordwalles, Rattray supported the school's annual fundraiser, The Mudman Triathlon. Each year, he would donate a two-night stay at his Mala Mala Game Reserve as a raffle prize. His support for the school also saw him attend many old boys' events over the years.
"We at Cordwalles will miss him greatly, but Michael Rattray’s legacy to South Africa, the international platform of safari travel, the world of animal conservation and to foundation education through Cordwalles, will live on," the school shared on their Facebook post.
Simon Weaver, headmaster of Cordwalles Preparatory School, also paid tribute to Rattray: "A man who enabled the building of Cordwalles to what it looks like today. He will be sorely missed by the Cordwalles community."
Rattray is survived by his wife Norma and son Christopher, also a Cordwalles Old Boy.