Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 29 February 1908.

LOWDHAM RIFLE CLUB

The annual meeting of the Lowdham and District Rifle Club was held in the schoolroom last night, Mr J.D. Pearson presiding over a moderate attendance. The balance sheet showed a balance in hand of over £12, and a balance on last year's working of £1. Officers were elected as follows:– President, Mr J.R. Starkey, M.P.; vice-presidents, Sir Francis Ley, Bart., Mr. J. L. Franklin, J.P., Mr. C.H. Hill, J.P., and Mr. J.D. Pearson; committee, Messrs. C.W. Avins, S. Cammack, A. Elmitt, E.A. Huskinson, J. Simpson, G.H. Ulyett, R.N. Whiston, and R. Whiston; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. F.E. Tyler.

The secretary announced the perpetual loan of two new rifles to the club by the War Office. Prizes were distributed for the last season's competitions as follows:– May competition, R. Whiston; June, R. Whiston; junior, J. Simpson jun.; disc breaking, S.R. Cammack, G.H. Ulyett; second disc breaking, S. Cammack; N.R.A. bronze badge, G.H. Ulyett, C.W. Avins; silver challenge cup, J.C. Belton, with the record score of 293 out of a possible 315.

Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 4 April 1908.

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

The first annual dinner of the Mapperley Institute Rifle Club, the holders of the Notts. Astor Cup, and the champions of the Nottingham and District Miniature Rifle League, was held last evening at the Albert Hotel, Nottingham.

A report of the club's progress since its range was opened in December 1906, by General Baden-Powell, was given by the hon. Secretary. The membership, he said, was now 43, not a large number, but all were shooters.

Nottingham Daily Express, Monday, Monday, 4 May 1908.

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING

New Range Opened by Mayor of Nottingham.

The Nottingham Municipal Officers' Rifle Association, recently established, was on Saturday honoured by the Mayor (Councillor J.T. Spalding), who formally opened, in the presence of a numerous company, the new range. Constructed at the rear of the Carrington Police Station, the range is thoroughly up-to-date, giving a length of 25 yards with a compliment of six targets.

The association, of which Ald. J.A.H. Green is president, is one of the youngest aspirants in the local shooting world, but thanks to an energetic and capable management substantial progress has already been made. Affiliation with the local league has been secured, and though the two matches fired off have both been lost the association in each case gave a very good account of themselves.

Ald. J.A.H. Green presided, and amongst a large company present, in addition to the Mayor of Nottingham (Councillor J.T. Spalding), were Councillors C.J. Mee and F.N. Hobson, Colonel W.H. Blackburn, Mr. Arthur Brown (city engineer), Mr. T.W. Gordon (assistant city engineer), Mr. F.W. Davis (water engineer), Mr. C.L. Des Forges (of the Town Clerk's office), Mr. H.G. Clarke (road surveyor), and Mr. A. Dale (assistant city architect).

Ald. Green, as president of the Nottingham Municipal Officers' Association welcomed Mr. Spalding and congratulated the members on what appeared to be a very efficient range, which, he said, would be full of usefulness. It had been stated in the Press that the range had been provided for the servants of the Corporation, but he pointed out that the money had been subscribed by the members themselves, by gifts and loans, and no part of the money came out of public funds. (Hear, hear!) That, he thought, was as it should be. (Applause.)

The Mayor remarked that he thought they had every reason to be satisfied with the progress that miniature rifle shooting had made in this country during the last few years. It was said of the great Napoleon that he was the means of our volunteer force springing into existence a hundred years ago, and he thought the South African war had done something similar with regard to rifle shooting. The excellent individual shooting of the Boers was due to every man having been trained in the use of the rifle. They remembered how our ancestors prided themselves on their use of the long bow, and he believed that Cressy and Agincourt were won by the excellent shooting of the English archers. The site now occupied by Park-row was at one time used for practising with the long bow.

So far as the old volunteers and the miniature riflemen were concerned, he thought they had done and would do their best to excel our forefathers in the use a weapon which stood first for the defence of our country. As their chief citizen he wishes them every success and trusted that they would all turn out good marksmen upon whom, when necessity arose, the country might depend for its defence. (Loud applause.)

Mr. Spalding then fired the first shot, scoring a bull, and a vote of thanks brought the formal opening of the range to a conclusion.

A competition was held afterwards, there being 24 competitors. The S.M.R.C. medal, given for the highest score from scratch, was won by E. Coe, who, in shooting off the tie (three shots), scored 27 against Elliott (24). The prizes were distributed at the close by Mr. T.W. Gordon (assistant city engineer), who announced that Councillor F.N. Hobson had promised to give a cup to be shot for yearly, under such conditions as the committee might determine. Details:–

	Score	H'cap	Total.
a) A. Elliott (City Engineer's Office)	92	5	97
b) W.A. Johnson (City Engineer's Office)	85	10	95
c) E. Coe (Captain)(Meter Testing Station)	92	0	92
W.H. Newham (City Architects Office)	91	0	91
J. Denver (Building Surveyor's Office)	79	10	89
A. Parker (Castle Museum)	88	0	88

(a) 1st prize; (b) 2nd prize; (c) 3rd prize and medal.

Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 30 July 1908.

BOOTS RIFLE RANGE.
OFFICIAL OPENING BY LORD LUCAS.

Lord Lucas, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War, to-day officially opened Boots' Athletic Club's miniature rifle range at Lady Bay, West Bridgford. The range was opened about eleven months ago, the whole of the initial costs having been borne by Mr. Jesse Boot, and the section has now about 300 members. The range is one of the finest in the Midlands, and is attractive apart from its suitability from a shooting point of view, for inside the enclosure are beds planted with shrubs and flowers. There are two distances, 25 yards and 50 yards, and the range is made what has been termed "fool proof", that is to say no one can stray within the danger zone even if he desired. There is fencing down each side from the firing point to the butts, and the mantlets are on a novel principle. They consist of two sheds outside the range, so that the markers cannot get into the line of fire, the targets being run out to them on the McCave track.

There was a large gathering at the opening ceremony, and in addition to the bulk of the members of the rifle club those present included the Mayor of Nottingham (Councillor W.H. Carey), Mr. A. Richardson, M.P., the Rev. A.R. Henderson, Dr. Robinson, Ald. J.A.H. Green (vice-chairman of the Nottinghamshire Territorial Forces Association), Councillor F.N. Hobson, Messrs. Jesse Hind, C. Hardy, A.E. Blake, R. Ivens, D.A. McGillivray, A.N. Milne (secretary of Boots Limited), A. Thompson (director), E.S. Waring (director), S.P. Derbyshire, J.D. Bright, P.S. Clay, A.R. Gleave, H.S. Whitby and T.F. Revell (secretary of the Miniature Rifle Club).

Mr. J.C. Boot, in welcoming Lord Lucas, expressed his father's regret that his health prevented his being present at both the occasions that day in which he was so interested. His father was very interested in the efforts that were being made to strengthen the defensive forces of Great Britain, and had established that range to enable the men in the employ of the firm of which he was the head to become good marksmen, and also to make it easy for them to become efficient soldiers in the Territorial Army. He, too, was very anxious to attain those results.

CITIZEN SOLDIERS

Lord Lucas, remarked that he was not a Nottingham man, but it gave him particular pleasure to be present, because his father had represented Nottingham in the House of Commons for a certain number of years. Mr. Boot had done a thing for which they, of the War Office, were sincerely grateful. He was not only allowing his men to join the territorial force, but also had given them exceptional facilities for attending parades, paying them their full wages while they (text unclear). That was a very patriotic action, and one which the War Office were proud of, for (this was) bound to have a great effect not only in Nottingham, but over the region. They wanted to form a real citizen's army for the defence of these shores, but that was a thing they could not do from the War Office, without the country at their backs. It was the nation that could do it and only the nation. (Hear, hear).

The response to Mr. Haldane's appeal had been most encouraging, men were coming forward in considerable numbers, the men were showing great keenness and patriotism, but that was not enough. If the scheme was to be made a success all classes in the country must help. Mr. Boot and other employers had set a great example, which he hoped would be followed. They had a beautiful range up with the best in the country, and he reminded them that rifle shooting was (text unclear) interesting and at the same time of the highest use. If they made themselves really first-class marksmen they would be in a splendid position to come forward, if ever the day came when they were needed, for the defence of the nation. He had no doubt they would find the shooting very interesting, and it would induce them to learn to shoot, and to take an interest in the military problems of the county, and perhaps (text unclear) the Territorial Force. He hoped they would become proficient shots, and at the next Olympic Games would have representatives in the English team (Applause).

Lord Lucas, having been cordially thanked, on the motion of Mr. T.F. Revell, seconded by Mr. (text unclear), then fired the first shot on the range, scoring a nine at 25 yards on a decimal target.

Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 27 October 1908.

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.

The three Newark miniature rifle clubs now have prospect of winter shooting, the use of the Market Hall having been secured for the dark nights. The clubs already possess butts built on sheet iron and gas-lighting arrangements, so little expense will be incurred.

Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 17 December 1908.

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING
NEW CLUB FOR NOTTINGHAM
MIDLAND RAILWAY RANGE OPENED

The Midland Railway have recently opened a new rifle range club for their employees in Nottingham. The range is an indoor one, and consists of four targets at 25 yards. Greener's service rifle is supplied, and as staff have already manifested great interest in the movement, the club promises to prove a great success.

A similar club has also been formed at Matlock, and it is expected that Bristol and Bedford will shortly follow suit, while a joint railways club (Mid., C.E., and G.N.) is in course of formation at Peterborough.