‘One of a kind’ – Inverness mourns as legendary Victorian Market joke shop veteran Nancy Rattray passes away at 83
A legend of Inverness who once described herself modestly as “just a shop girl” has died four years after closing the famous joke shop she ran for over half a century.
Much-loved Nancy Rattray (83) would become one of the Highland capital’s most instantly recognisable faces in the decades after taking over the Victorian Market store in 1966.
It had previously been run by her dad, JC Rattray, from 1953, purely as a gardening shop.
By then one of the very oldest established businesses remaining in the arcade, it closed in August 2020 ahead of the market’s renovation and partial transformation into a food hall.
Nancy, who retired aged 78, died peacefully on Tuesday this week (December 11) after around a month in the care of Raigmore Hospital.
In among previously warren-like surrounds, Nancy’s joke shop and garden supplies outlet became an Aladdin’s Cave of mischievous and amusing items, party tricks, fancy dress costumes and disguises.
It served to delight generations of youngsters and fun-loving adults, with Nancy ever-present to offer wise counsel on novelty objects from fake dog poos and moustaches to handcuffs, whoopie cushions and sombreros.
The shop received a complimentary mention in one of famous American travel writer Bill Bryson’s tomes, Notes from a Small Island.
Among the many close to her, she counted Scottish football legend Denis Law who she met through a business associate before striking up a long-lasting friendship.
At the time of her retirement, Nancy said: “The market was my life and I am missing it already.”
For nine years prior to taking over from her dad, Nancy worked in nearby Timpson’s.
She recalled: “I branched into novelties and costumes because there was a demand and no one else was doing it in the town.
“When we started it was all open stalls. There were seven butchers, four greengrocers and three fishmongers and they all made a comfortable living.
"My cousin was on the other side of the market with fruit and veg.
“In winter, he always took a knife through your turnip to make sure it wasn't frosted.
“There was also a wee DIY shop and we had a model shop, which was marvellous. They were here for 38 years.
“I really grew up in the market and met so many lovely people there that it will be a wrench being away.”
On her retirement, there were calls for Nancy to be given the freedom of the city, but she modestly declined saying she was “just a shop girl”.
Despite her determination to “avoid a fuss” about closure of the shop, a great many locals, past customers and the great and good of Inverness took to social media to pay tribute.
Speaking to the Courier today, Nancy’s nephew Andrew Rattray, who enjoyed a close bond with his aunt, was full of thanks for the care and attention Raigmore staff across several wards had given Nancy in her final days.
He said: “Nancy was an auntie like no other. Growing up in Chester, where my dad had moved before I was born, I would visit twice a year and get the greatest welcome.
“Myself and my sister remember our great excitement at visiting and helping out at the shop and, ever since, I’ve visited every year.
“She had a very loyal customer base and while she had to develop and adapt the business over the years, she always retained items she knew her customers would still want to buy.
“She never wanted to let them down and that meant she built up an incredible amount of stock, but, remarkably, always knew exactly where everything was.
“She was one of a kind, someone I grew incredibly close to and we will all miss her so very much.”
Morven Reid, depute provost of Inverness and area, said: “I didn’t really know Nancy personally, but as a kid growing up on the west coast in Glenelg we would come over to Inverness and make a bee-line for her shop.
“I remember buying a whoopee cushion, fake moustaches and one of those chewing gum dispensers that would snap at your finger!
“Nancy had endless mounds of stock, but could always find exactly what you were after.
“She was just a stalwart figure and a great character, who will be sorely missed by so many. My thoughts are with her family and friends.”
Inverness BID chairman Gordon McIntosh passed on his condolences on behalf of Nancy’s many friends, fellow traders and past customers in the city centre.
He said: “The city centre business community will be very saddened to hear of the passing of Nancy Rattray, whose unique shop and presence graced the Victorian Market for over 60 years.
“Nancy was a familiar face for many generations and her warmth and kindness will be fondly remembered.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends.”
Nancy had no children from her short marriage and had separated from husband Ian before his death.
Her dad JC died in 1966, but her mum Annie lived at Old Edinburgh Road in a former council house - bought for her from modest earnings by Nancy - until her death in 1997.
Her sister Helen had died in 2016 and elder brother Jimmy passed away this year aged 96 in Hounslow, Middlesex.
But she is survived by her brother Fred (93), who lives in Chester; nephew Andrew, his wife Karen and their children Jamie and Alex who stay in Portishead; and her niece Sarah and Sarah’s daughter Emma.
Two very special people in Nancy’s life were her longstanding friends Linda Morton and Moira McLean.
The family also wishes to extend special thanks to Nancy’s second cousin Bob and his wife Janice who went to great lengths to help fiercely independent Nancy in her final years and Bob’s sister Rosemary and Finlay for recent dedicated care and hospital visits.
