Peter Ramsay

Peter Douglas Kenneth Ramsay (1939 – 21 July 2019) was a New Zealand academic. He was a professor of education at the University of Waikato, and was a member of the Picot task force in 1987–1988. Ramsay was also noted for his contributions to daffodil breeding.

Academic career Ramsay studied at Victoria University of Wellington, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a Diploma of Education and a Diploma of Teaching from Wellington Teachers' College. He later completed a DPhil at the University of Waikato.

Early in his career, while he was a primary school teacher in Wellington, Ramsay became active in the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), and from 1968 to 1970 he was the first curriculum officer of the NZEI.

In 1976, Ramway was made an associate fellow of the NZEI, and in 1986 he was made an honorary fellow of the NZEI. In the 2007 New Year Honours, Ramsay was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services.

Daffodil breeding With his wife Lesley, Ramsay gained an international reputation for showing and hybrising daffodils, registering 116 daffodil hybrids between 1992 and 2018. Two of these, "Blossom Lady" and "Cameo Magic", were awarded First Class Certificates at the National Daffodil Society of New Zealand (NDSNZ) daffodil awards, in 2007 and 2013, respectively. In 2008, Ramsay was awarded the gold medal of the American Daffodil Society, and in 2013 he won the Peter Barr Cup from the Royal Horticultural Society, for contributions to the advancement and enjoyment of daffodils.

He served as president of the NDSNZ, and latterly was its vice-patron. Ramsay was also an international daffodil judge, and was involved in the establishment of the horticultural pavilion in Hamilton Gardens.