It is with sadness that we inform you that Nigel Hill passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, 8th February 2024.
Nigel was a long-time member and Chairman of Phoenix Rifle Club (in Bedfordshire) and will be fondly remembered by many in Bedfordshire and at NSRA Scotland and Bisley meetings for his humour.
Nigel will be greatly missed, but remembered with much affection.
We offer our sincere condolences to Nigel's family and close friends.
I am deeply sorry to inform you that Huw Farquharson died at age 55 on the 20th of July 2023 in Kingston Hospital following a long battle with bowel cancer. Following an emergency operation he developed hospital-acquired pneumonia, and after some time in ITU, he died peacefully with his sister, wife and son by his side.
Huw came into shooting later in life, initially to help me (James Farquharson), and with his dedication I went on to international success in 10m Sporter Air Rifle. Although he had never been involved in target shooting before, I have never had a better coach. I have no doubt that without his tireless support, I would never have achieved so much. After his cancer diagnosis, which came in 2020 during the first wave of Covid, he and I took up shotgun shooting to spend more time together while the indoor ranges were closed.
Huw was a lifelong Scout, and enthusiastically supported the Royal Kingston Scout Air Rifle Club, where I had started out - running the District Competition, becoming an Instructor, and Club Secretary. Even once I had gone off to do my own things, Dad remained heavily involved in the club, wanting to give others the same opportunities I had.
During his cancer treatment, he used his chemo sessions as an opportunity to catch up on club emails, and continued to work full time up until his inpatient admission. Even while in hospital with pneumonia, he continued his support for RKSARC remotely - working on the club’s competition system and replying to enquiries, even managing to keep on top of postal competitions.
Although a good shooter, Huw rarely competed - preferring to support young Scouts and me. He was an excellent problem solver, and always willing to help wherever he could. I have lost count of the number of things he fixed for me and other shooters - whether he knew them or not. He usually arrived at events as a spectator but ended up running ranges or scoring. Frequently seen around Bisley and at National Scout Rifle Squad training weekends, he was a familiar face to many - and I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have come up to me to express their sadness at his death. In honour of him, and his contributions to Scout shooting, this year the National Scout Rifle Championships awarded a new perpetual cup “The Huw Farquharson Memorial Trophy” for 10m Sporter Air Rifle.
Huw was a man without an ego, just a simple, practical and optimistic desire to help people, regardless of personal cost or the effort it would take. Probably one of the most famous quotes from Robert Baden Powell (founder of the Scouts) is “Try to leave this world a little better than you found it.” I believe that Dad, consciously or not, fully embodied this ethos.
We regret to report that news has been received of the recent death of Carol Page (now Mrs Carol Graham), one of our leading lady pistol shooters during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Her international career included Commonwealth Games and World Cup medals and she also represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games and World and European Championship level.
On the domestic scene, Carol was British Champion on many occasions in Women’s Air Pistol and Sport Pistol (now 25m Pistol), including a run of nine consecutive Air Pistol Championships from 1991 to 1999.
Her cremation will be private, but there will be a service in celebration of her life on 10th November at Aberlour, Morayshire.
It is with great sadness we inform you of the death of Ian Gray BEM, who passed away on 24th September 2023.
Ian had been involved with small-bore rifle shooting since a teenager back in the 1950s with Cupar Rifle Club, before becoming a member of Perth City & County Rifle Club for several decades, holding a number of positions within the Club. More recently he was a member of Kinross and Milnathort Rifle Club.
Ian was well-known and respected across Scotland and south of the border, having also served on various NSRA boards/councils throughout the years. An avid Member of the Centipede Club, Ian was also a Class B Scorer and Scorer for Cumbria and Northumbria Target Shooting Association. He was a dedicated Central Scorer and scored the ELEY prone competition for many years.
There will be a funeral service at Perth Crematorium on Wednesday 18th October at 12.30pm. Donations instead of flowers may be made to Cornhill Macmillan Centre on leaving the service.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
It is with sadness that we inform you that Kevin Hindle passed away in the early hours of Friday, 23rd June 2023. Kevin had several health issues, and the exact cause of his untimely passing has yet to be determined.
Kevin was an enthusiastic supporter of our sport and dedicated much of his time to helping and encouraging others, particularly juniors. He held officer and coaching positions at Club, County and Regional level. He was perhaps best known to many as the good humoured range officer at National meetings at Bisley and elsewhere around the country. Kevin will be greatly missed but remembered with much affection.
We offer our sincere condolences to Kevin's family and close friends.
It is with enormous sadness that we report the passing of George Lawson. George has been involved with the NSRA for a very long time and acted as Chief Range Officer for both the Scottish and Bisley Meetings for many years.
04.06.1931 - 11.01.2020
Chris McIntyre began rifle shooting in 1956 along with her late husband Jimmy and joined Fortwilliam Rifle Club in 1956 though later transferred to Downshire Rifle Club in Hillsborough in 1964 where they both remained members until their deaths.
Chris enjoyed shooting and during her shooting career represented Downshire Rifle Club and Northern Ireland on many occasions. Chris competed in competitions in Ireland, both North and South, bringing home many medals and trophies over the years.
I am sad to report that Trevor Norman passed away on 25th January having suffered a brain haemorrhage on the previous evening. There were shooters from both small-bore and clay pigeon disciplines at his funeral which took place on February 12th.
Trevor took up small-bore shooting after a period in the cadet force at school and initially joined Craghead Rifle Club shooting with club equipment, probably a BSA 12/15, on which he honed his skills. He was to move on to Hartlepool Rifle Club followed by an extended period at Billingham Synthonia, up until the time that club closed down, and latterly Darlington Rifle Club. He was also a member of the British 400 Club.
27.12.1942 - 4.11.2019
Dick, like so many people of his generation and background, started his shooting career with his school’s combined cadet force. By his own admission he was useless with a .22 rifle but was always proud of the fact that it took him hardly any time at all to get his Marksman Badge with a .303.
We were deeply saddened to hear via Cambridgeshire Target Shooting Association that Ann Mallows passed away on 22 June 2019, after battling cancer for the last couple of years.
Ann, then Ann Ivett, took up small-bore rifle at a young age, while living with her parents in Waterbeach, Cambridge. When older, Ann shot with the Cambridge Ladies, using the range at the old Cambridge Police Station in Regent Street, Central Cambridge. Ann also shot at the Chivers factory range in Histon, both long since closed. Ann became a member of the Gogs Rifle Club in the 1970s and was Ladies County Captain at one stage for .22 rifle.