Gunmakers' News | Worshipful Company of Gunmakers

Conservation of our Charter and Ordinances

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:48:53 GMT

Explore the restoration of our Charter and Ordinances

Read a detailed account of the conservation of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers’ Charter (1637) and Ordinances (1670), this article follows their journey from fragile, rolled documents to carefully restored and preserved artefacts. It highlights the specialist techniques used, the historical details uncovered during the process, and the significance of safeguarding nearly 400 years of the Company’s history for future study and use.

Our 389th Birthday

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:45:08 GMT

Today we celebrate the 389th birthday of our Company

Dear Gunmakers,

Today we celebrate the 389th birthday of our Company — a remarkable milestone that speaks to the strength, continuity, and purpose of The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers.

For nearly four centuries the Company has safeguarded the traditions, skills, and standards that define our craft, while continuing to evolve in response to the world around us. That enduring balance between heritage and progress is what keeps the Company vibrant and relevant today.

As we mark this anniversary, it is worth reflecting on the generations of Gunmakers, Wardens, Court members and Liverymen who have stewarded the Company with care and foresight. Their dedication has ensured that our charter, our responsibilities to the trade, and our wider charitable and civic roles remain as important now as they have ever been.

But anniversaries are not only about looking back. They are also about looking forward. The Company continues to strengthen its role in supporting the craft, developing future talent, and maintaining the high standards for which the Gunmakers’ Company is respected around the world.

I am deeply grateful for the commitment, enthusiasm and friendship that so many of you bring to the life of the Company. It is your support that ensures the Gunmakers’ Company will continue to flourish well into its fifth century.

Thank you for all you do for the Company and Happy 389th Birthday Gunmakers!

With warmest good wishes,
Nicole
Master Gunmaker

The Master's Chain and Jewel

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:17:44 GMT

A Badge for the Ages

In the yellowed gaslight of a London workshop in the winter of 1877, the work began. Outside, hooves on stone streets, iron, brick and smoke. The room warm with coal heat and rich with the metallic smell of filings. Gold laying upon a scarred wooden bench. Small crucibles glowed in the furnace. Wall hung gravers, chasing tools, and fine saws. A designer, most likely the senior man in the room, bent over a full-scale drawing of an oval jewel, measuring proportions with dividers, arranging relief in his mind so that it would catch in the light.

It all started with a Captain David Aspland Gibbs, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers in 1877. On 15 November of that year, he informed the Court that he had caused a badge to be made and intended to present it to the Company.

The badge was crafted in 1878, and that date matters. It places the jewel firmly within the high Victorian period, an age of confidence, display and civic assertion. The City of London was expanding in wealth and authority. Livery companies were reasserting their ceremonial identities. Gibbs’ gift belongs to that wider moment.

Captain Gibbs was not merely embellishing the role of Master, he was seeking to enhance it by providing a lasting emblem of authority. The Mastership is annual, fleeting by design. A person holds the office for a year and then steps aside. By commissioning a permanent badge of office, Gibbs ensured that the importance of the position would have a visible, enduring centre.

The original badge, completed in 1878, was substantial. It combined sculptural gold relief with enamelled depth, executed in the confident vocabulary of late Victorian civic design. It was made to be seen across a hall, to catch gaslight, to project gravitas. It was not restrained for the time.

Yet the story did not end with its completion.

In May 1884, the Court was informed that the executors of William John Payne, Esquire, Coroner of the City of London, had conveyed a bequest. Payne, himself a former Master, had left a jewelled ornament to the Company with the intention that a diamond border should enclose the arms upon the Master’s badge. Six years after its creation, the badge was transformed. The addition of the diamond frame in 1884 altered its character without altering its purpose. The sculptural, heraldic core remained intact, but it was now encircled by light. The openwork scroll frame, set with graduated diamonds, elevated the badge from formal regalia to something approaching high ceremonial jewellery. It did not compete with the central design; it amplified it.

This second benefaction was not an embellishment for vanity. It was an act of civic generosity. Payne’s gift framed the authority of the Master in brilliance, ensuring that the jewel would hold its own among the insignia of other great City companies. Where Gibbs had established permanence, Payne added radiance.

The reverse inscription records both names. It binds their contributions together: the presentation of the badge by Captain David Aspland Gibbs and the bequest of the jewelled frame by William John Payne. Two Masters, separated by years, joined permanently.

The gaslight has long since dimmed. The smoke-blackened skyline has given way to glass and steel. The City now hums with servers instead of steam, algorithms instead of apprentices, global markets instead of river barges. But the Livery endures, and the badge remains. It rests today against a Master’s gown in rooms lit by electric light and catches in the reflections of smartphone screens. It witnesses speeches about innovation, compliance, international trade and artificial intelligence. It stands at the intersection of heritage and relevance.

What was conceived in Victorian confidence now anchors a very twenty-first-century institution. Unchanged in substance and still serving the needs of the day.

Best in Show at the Royal Kennel Club

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:49:20 GMT

A very special presentation

On Thursday 12th Fe bruary the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers were honoured to hold an event at the Royal Kennel Club in Piccadilly. There was a drinks reception, a tour, talks, and a lovely dinner. The Gunmakers also presented the Royal Kennel Club with a gift.

In 1859 the first ever organised dog show in Great Britain was arranged by William Rochester Pape, Gunmaker, with the prize for class winners being a Pape Shotgun.

Founded in 1873, The Royal Kennel Club is the United Kingdom’s governing body for dog registration and pedigree breed standards. Established to bring order, integrity and consistency to the rapidly growing world of dog breeding and showing, it has since become one of the most respected canine institutions in the world. From maintaining the official breed standards to overseeing Crufts, the largest and most prestigious dog show globally, the Club plays a central role in preserving gun dog heritage and promoting responsible ownership.

Our own Professor Williams and the remarkable Heidi Hudson, the Kennel Club’s curator and archivist, gave talks on the origin and importance of Pape, gun dogs, dog shows, and Crufts.

The aforementioned gift was presented, a Pape shotgun made in the year of the first dog show! A magnificent addition to the clubs collection to sit beneath an image of Pape. A mark of the importance of gunmaking through the ages and its impact on today’s society.

Our thanks to Bill Blacker MAsR.G who purchased the Pape Shotgun, and with the help of Carl Langton MAsR.G, deactivated and restored it. Bill and Carl are seen presenting the gun to Heidi. Also in the images is our Master, Nicole Brocklebank-Fowler, and the Kendall Memorial Trophy.

Progress, Leadership and Partnership with 31 Squadron RAF Air Cadets

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:03:34 GMT

A Night of Milestones for 31 (Tower Hamlets) Squadron RAF Air Cadets

31 (Tower Hamlets) Squadron RAF Air Cadets marked a significant milestone this week with a well-attended and highly successful awards and presentations evening. The event demonstrated not only the strength and direction of the Squadron itself, but also the value of sustained support from its partners, including the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers and the Gunmakers’ Charitable Trust.

Around 200 guests were present, including Cadets, parents, carers, invited guests and supporters. More Court members would have chosen to be in attendance were there the space. The evening opened in a welcoming and relaxed manner, with a generous buffet provided in the bar area. Guests were received by the Squadron Chairman and support staff while the Cadets prepared for the formal proceedings.

Ceremony and Cadet Achievement

The formal programme began with the ceremonial marching-on of the Squadron Banner, then by a performance from the Squadron’s 30-strong Band, setting a confident and professional tone for the evening.

What followed was an extensive series of awards, commendations and promotions, reflecting both individual achievement and the breadth of opportunity within the Squadron. These presentations were interspersed with short addresses from selected Cadets at different stages of seniority. Each spoke clearly and confidently about their journey since joining the Squadron, what they had achieved over the past year, and what motivates them as Cadets. Collectively, these contributions gave a compelling picture of personal development, discipline and ambition.

The Renter Warden presented several awards during the evening, alongside presentations from the Fishmongers’ Company Cadet Liaison Representative, who awarded their academic achievement trophy and accompanying certificates. The evening made clear that standards within the Squadron are rising and that this progress is recognised beyond the unit itself.

Recognition at Command Level

This was underlined by a notable and entirely unexpected moment. The Group Captain responsible for the London area announced the promotion of the Officer Commanding, Flying Officer Labib Khan, to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. This marked his second promotion within a year and came without prior warning, making it a particularly meaningful recognition of both leadership and results.

Gunmakers’ Support and Rifle Presentations

A key feature of the evening was the presentation of a pair of Scorpion Cadet Mk.4 air rifles to the Squadron. These were presented jointly on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers by the Renter Warden, and on behalf of the Gunmakers’ Charitable Trust by its Vice Chairman.

Flight Lieutenant Khan expressed his deep gratitude for these donations and for the wider support the Gunmakers provide. Several Cadets spoke during the evening about their progression through different rifles over the course of their Cadet careers, noting how learning to adapt to different characteristics had been central to developing their shooting proficiency. The presentations reinforced the importance of access to high-quality, appropriate equipment as part of that learning journey.

Chairman each presenting an Air Rifle to Squadron Officer Commanding Flying Officer (now Flight Lieutenant) L Khan

Sgt (now Flight Sergeant) E Fernandez was awarded her leadership certificate for passing the Silver syllabus.

Cpl (now Sgt) G Court was presented with a leadership certificate for passing her Silver syllabus.

Squadron Adjunct Fg Off Manisha Devki Makwana-Mehmi received a Gunmakers Certificate recognising her efforts in coaching the shooting team and the successes achieved under her guidance.

Cpl (now Sgt) S Bhuiyan also received a leadership certificate for passing her Silver syllabus.

The Livery is to Blame

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:56:33 GMT

Ten Things You Can Blame On The Livery

Long before formal government regulators arrived, Liveries existed to protect standards: training, entry to the trade, quality control, and the general principle that if you sell something in the City, it shouldn’t be dreadful. That idea didn’t die. It evolved. Even the modern Freedom of the City narrative still frames the Liveries as part of an old bargain: you pay a fee, you gain the right to trade and in return, the trade behaves properly. If you’ve ever benefited from a professional who actually knows what they’re doing, you can blame the Liveries for setting the tone.

The annoying expectation that professionals should be competent

Product recalls

The Great Fire of London began at around 1am on 2 September 1666 in the bakery of the King’s baker, Thomas Farriner, on Pudding Lane. We can’t be sure exactly how it started, but an ember from an oven is the usual suspect. Farriner had joined the Bakers’ Company in 1637. So when London was burning, blame a Livery, kind of.

The apprenticeship model as a route to mastery

Modern apprenticeships come with qualifications and frameworks, but the Livery tradition is where the idea hardens into something serious: skill passed from practitioner to practitioner, measured over time, with real consequences.

Historically, the norm in London was a seven-year apprenticeship , usually starting in the mid-teens, to a freeman of a livery company, long enough to form expertise, not just technique. So if you’ve ever met someone who’s not merely trained, but a master of their craft, blame a Livery.

The Lord Mayor’s world is real, not a fashion show

In most places, civic ceremony is decorative. In the City, it’s welded into governance. Liverymen still participate in the City’s unique constitutional machinery, including being summoned to Common Hall at Guildhall for key elections, such as Sheriffs.

This is not nostalgia. It’s an operating system that continues to drive inward investment and strong international partnerships. If you've ever wondered why business people and politicians still attend banquets and dress in white tie, blame a Livery.

Charity on an industrial scale

Here’s the modern truth: Liveries are, in many cases, serious philanthropic engines. Some are explicit about it. The Worshipful Company of Communicators describes the City Livery movement as giving around £75 million to charity each year. And this isn’t one-off “we sponsored a fun run” charity. It’s structural: trusts, grants, education, hardship support, research, and long-term institutional giving.

If you’ve ever met someone whose life got nudged into a better lane by a scholarship, bursary, or professional grant with a City badge on it: blame a Livery.

The Great Fire of London

Before consumer protection law, the Liveries enforced the brutal version of a recall: seize it, destroy it, compensate if necessary, and stop the maker trading.

Guild officers inspected goods in markets and workshops. If bread was underweight, metal was impure, cloth was shoddy, or medicines were unsafe, the response wasn’t guidance or “best practice”. The goods were taken off sale immediately. In some trades they were publicly destroyed. Repeat offenders faced escalating penalties, including loss of the right to trade. This is the ancestor of the modern product recall: unsafe or defective goods removed from circulation because the integrity of the market matters more than the embarrassment of the maker.

If you’ve ever seen a product pulled from shelves “out of an abundance of caution”, blame a Livery.

Large scale drug manufacturing

The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries manufactured medicines at scale from its own Hall. Chartered in 1617, the Society acquired Apothecaries’ Hall in Blackfriars in 1632 and, after the Great Fire rebuilt it, later adding an “Elaboratory” a purpose-built facility for bulk production. From the late 17th century it ran organised manufacturing and supply operations for major institutional customers, and that medicines trade continued into the early 20th century.

Cancel Culture

Cancel culture didn’t start with social media. The Liveries built an older, colder version: the trade decides you’re not fit to trade. In the City guild system, membership, freedom, and permission to operate were conditional. If you cheated customers, produced bad work, broke the rules, or operated outside the recognised system, the consequences weren’t “a backlash”. They were practical: fines, confiscation, exclusion, and in serious cases, being barred from working your trade in the City. This is the root idea behind modern professional strike-off and licence withdrawal: the privilege of trading isn’t absolute. It can be removed.

If you’ve ever watched someone lose the right to practice, trade, or operate because they couldn’t be trusted, blame a Livery.

Official markings

Liveries didn’t invent the idea of marking goods. Traders had been scratching names, symbols, and ownership marks onto products for centuries. What the Liveries did was far more consequential: they turned marks into enforceable proof. In certain trades, a mark stopped being a claim by the maker and became a verdict by the trade itself. If the mark was there, the item had been tested. If it wasn’t, it wasn’t legitimate.

That shift matters. Hallmarks on precious metals and proof marks on firearms are the cleanest examples, but the principle is broader: inspection, verification, record-keeping, and consequences. Marks became shorthand for trust backed by real authority, not marketing. If you’ve ever trusted a product because it carried an official stamp rather than a promise, blame a Livery.

The Liveries embedded a deeply inconvenient idea into British commercial life: passing a standard once doesn’t buy you permanent approval. As materials, tools, and risks changed, so did expectations. A product or practice that was acceptable in one generation could be rejected in the next. Marks, permissions, and approvals were always conditional on current standards, not historical reputation.

The underlying logic is simple: the public shouldn’t bear the risk of your outdated competence. If you’ve ever been told that yesterday’s pass is today’s fail, blame a Livery.

Moving the goalposts

Blame the Worshipful Company of Carmen

One-way traffic

Vehicle registration

Vehicle Tax

Long before cars, congestion was already a problem. Medieval London’s streets were narrow, crowded, and chaotic: carts, drays, packhorses, pedestrians, animals, and market stalls all competing for space. Two carts meeting head-on in the wrong place could bring an entire street or gateway to a halt.

The Worshipful Company of Carmen, responsible for regulating carts and carters, addressed this not by widening streets but by controlling movement. They enforced designated routes for carts carrying goods, restricted access at certain times of day, and, in particularly tight lanes, wharves, and market approaches, imposed directional movement.

These weren’t called “one-way streets,” but functionally that’s what they were: enter here, exit there, keep the flow moving. The principle was simple and enduring, traffic efficiency matters more than individual convenience.

If you’ve ever been funnelled down a one-way system and told it’s “for traffic flow,” blame the Carmen.

Carts caused damage, injury, obstruction, toll evasion, and were part of illegal trading. Without identification, enforcement was impossible.

The Worshipful Company of Carmen solved this with cart marking. Every authorised cart had to carry a visible, unique mark. That mark was recorded and tied to the owner, the carter, and the permitted trade. Unmarked carts were illegal. They could be fined, seized, or excluded from operating.

Crucially, these marks required no paperwork in the street. A warden could see instantly whether a cart was legitimate. A mark wasn’t branding or decoration, it was permission, rendered visible.

This is vehicle registration stripped to its essentials: a unique identifier, linked to a central authority, used for compliance and enforcement. The difference between a medieval cart mark and a modern number plate is material, not logic.

If you’ve ever been told your vehicle must be identifiable to the state, blame the Carmen.

Carts placed heavy strain on roads, bridges, wharves, and markets, infrastructure built primarily for feet, not wheels. Maintenance cost money, and the burden fell disproportionately on wheeled traffic.

Cart marking was not free. Fees were paid for registration, renewal, and permission to operate within the City. Fines applied for overloading, operating outside permitted routes, or using unregistered carts. Pay, and your cart was lawful. Don’t, and it wasn’t.

This is road-use taxation by licence: those who use infrastructure most contribute to its upkeep; failure to pay removes your right to operate. The principle is unchanged, whether the fee is collected by a medieval livery or registered with the DVLA.

If you’ve ever paid to keep a vehicle legally on the road, blame the Carmen.

Christmas Greetings 2025

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:15:32 GMT

At this very special time of year I would like to send very warm Christmas wishes to all members of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers family.

Christmas gives us a moment to reflect on the strength of our Company, our traditions, our fellowship and the shared pride we take in all that we represent.

As we look ahead to 2026 I encourage you to support our Livery events, to take part and to become actively involved in the life of the Company. It is through your engagement that we continue to thrive and pass our values on to future generations.

May your Christmas be joyful and peaceful and may the New Year bring good health, happiness and every success.

A very Merry Christmas to you all.

The Master, Nicole Brocklebank-Fowler, shares a Christmas message with the Company

The Achievement of Arms

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 17:50:00 GMT

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet.

Our identity as the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers certainly transcends the words themselves. In fact, our particular style of Livery is a unique combination of our heritage, the work of the Proof House and the Clerk’s office, and the day-to-day contributions of the Court, Wardens and Liverymen. All of this under a golden coat of arms that to our best knowledge first appeared in the late 1600s.

What follows is an account of how a small team of people at the Livery came to understand that our bold crest is just a logo after all, and that our coat of arms is something subtly different.

The needs of a digital age

In the process of working towards creating a consistent and increasingly digital identity for the Livery it became clear that the images we’ve been using weren’t available in sufficiently high-quality formats to always look good in 2025. You may have noticed from time to time that our old coat of arms looked lower definition than it should in our printed materials. The Crown GP, in contrast, is more frequently used now because we have a very high-quality version.

Under Colin Burrows the communications sub-committee resolved to create a modern high-definition version of our coat of arms to be used across the Livery. Colin and Philip Montague (Monty) began the search for a graphic illustrator that could reproduce the coat of arms for that purpose. The result was a firm result, but because of the complexity of the image, a high cost.

Establishing the right protection

At the same time the Master (Richard Hefford-Hobbs) had resolved to begin establishing legal protection of our visual identity in anticipation of having more prominence overseas in support of the Gunmakers 400 year anniversary.

These parallel conversations yielded two actions. The first was to establish precisely what we were protecting, the second was to establish if there was any protection attached to our arms as recorded at the College of Arms. The assumption being that if we were able to establish a registered and approved Coat of Arms that this may be sufficient protection for the Gunmakers’ Livery.

The College of Arms

It was determined that the best way to resolve a number of these threads simultaneously would be a visit to the College arms. The intention to secure both a digital copy of our arms, and confirmation of precisely what is on record. Monty was introduced to the College of Arms by Professor David Williams and visited with William Hunt TD BA FCA, past Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary. What was revealed in person is that our coat of arms, as recorded and registered for posterity, is not quite what we were expecting.

The Achievement of Arms of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers as recorded at the College of Arms

The Coat of Arms, hand painted into record at the College of Arms was nearly as you see above. The golden shield was exactly as above, and not the more ornate version seen on what we have been using. The feathers were also absent in the register but are noted in the description. As is the helmet itself, though the wreath and scimitar were present. These omissions in the painting were only because of a lack of space in the register. We were not permitted to take a photograph inside the College of Arms but Monty took down detailed notes of the differences.

Absent entirely from the College of Arms were the canons, banners, and other armaments that surround the shield. These are as Prof. Williams aptly described ‘a confection’ have now been confirmed as much.

On a subsequent visit to create photography for the Proof House website Monty identified that our actual coat of arms was already on display on the left hand side of the letters patent in the Court Room at the London Proof House.

The image above, and the arms we are now using as a working logo, is a photograph of the letters patent version in the Court room at the Proof House. You’ll notice that feathers and gold frame have a slightly washed-out appearance towards the bottom. This is where it was otherwise impossible to remove the influence of light on the glass over the letters when they were photographed.

We think you’ll agree it is an exceptional reproduction, at no-cost, that scales up and down brilliantly for use on our formal written material like proposer and sponsor forms. Most importantly it forms the basis of our soon to be launched new website. Where this coat of arms will become our new logo, and where its colours and form will influence the visual identity of the Company for years to come.

It’s our ultimate intention to use the Achievement of Arms as recorded at the College of Arms as our working logo, and that our ornate logo will continue to be used for ceremonial purposes.

The formal description of our coat of arms

Argent two flintlock muskets crossed in saltire between in chief the monograms GP and in base V both royally crowned to the dexter a barrel of gunpower to the sinister three round shot all proper.

Crest on a wreath argent and gules a panache of ostrich feathers argent issuant therefrom a dexter arm in armour sable garnished or embowed the hand holding a scimitar proper.

The mantling argent a gules.

Gunmakers Master Made Fellow

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:42:00 GMT

Richard Hefford-Hobbs FREng has been awarded the esteemed Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a prestigious honour recognising his exceptional contributions to the field of engineering. 

The announcement was made on the 24th of September 2025, highlighting Richard as one of a select few individuals to receive this accolade each year.

The Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of engineering and technology, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. With this recognition, Richard joins a distinguished community of engineers who have shaped the future of their profession through their imaginative and impactful work.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the Royal Academy of Engineering,” said Richard. “This award reflects not just my efforts but the collaborative spirit of all those I have worked with throughout my career. Together, we push the frontiers of engineering to shape a better future for society.”

Richard’s dedication to engineering, innovation, education and leadership at Cambridge Precision, Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge, the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers and Gallyon have significantly influenced both the academic and practical aspects of the engineering industry.

The Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering is not only a mark of individual achievement but also serves to inspire the next generation of engineers. As a newly inducted Fellow, Richard is committed to mentoring young engineers and promoting the importance of innovation, ethical practices, diversity and inclusion within the profession, as well as supporting the Royal Academy.

Richard Hefford-Hobbs Awarded Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering

About the Royal Academy of Engineering:

The Royal Academy of Engineering is the UK’s national academy for engineering, dedicated to promoting excellence in engineering for the benefit of society. The Royal Academy is a charity delivering public benefit, providing progressive leadership, and a Fellowship bringing together an unrivalled community of leaders from every part of engineering and technology. The Patron is King Charles III.

The Academy works to inspire the next generation of engineers and to support the development of the engineering profession.

Awards from the Certification Panel

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 20:03:00 GMT

The Certification Panel met on Wednesday 1st October to recognise three very different contributions to the craft of Gunmaking.

Joe, above, was certified as a Proof Technician in recognition of his skill, dedication, and creativity in the craft of Gun Proof.

Louie received his solid silver medal as winner of the McMillan Trophy in 2024.

Finally, and most deserving, Richard Noakes received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Master of the Gunmakers and Chairman of the Certification Panel.

Chelsea Pensioners’ Visit 2025

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:08:00 GMT

153 years of military service paraded at The Proof House when eight In-Pensioners from The Royal Hospital Chelsea visited on Tuesday 12 August 2025.

Despite the 31°C they looked magnificent in their ‘Scarlets’ (never ‘Reds’) and their gleaming medals, so much so that the Master matched them in fighting off a chill by donning his gown, as the photograph shows. ‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’ were met by the Master, Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Proof Master and Liveryman Hallowes. Michael has developed a first-class relationship with the Hospital and liaises regularly there with Lt Col De De Watts. Their Governor, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE DL, will lunch with the Company in September.

The entrée was a talk by the Master on our history, followed by mains with the Proof Master explaining our work before showing examples maintained by the Company.

The Pensioners then stamped their own key fobs with the military proof mark to record their visit before retiring to the cool Court Room for tea and biscuits to learn about the Livery followed by discussions on military and mutually related matters.

Jubilant and entertained the party left at 3.30pm, sorry 15.30hrs!

Restoration of the Gunmakers’ Charter

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:14:00 GMT

The post Restoration of the Gunmakers’ Charter appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Strengthening Ties with West Ham Sea Cadets

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 13:53:00 GMT

The post Strengthening Ties with West Ham Sea Cadets appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Common Hall at Guildhall

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:18:00 GMT

The post Common Hall at Guildhall appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Summer Banquet 2025

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:31:00 GMT

The post Summer Banquet 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Common Hall at Guildhall: A Celebration of Tradition, 24 June 2025

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 09:36:00 GMT

The post Common Hall at Guildhall: A Celebration of Tradition, 24 June 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Inter Livery Cask Race 2025, 21 June 2025

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 09:45:00 GMT

The Gunmakers Team competed in the fourth annual Coopers’ Company ‘Cask Race’ at The Guildhall last Saturday. This is a thrilling and unique competition where teams of four roll oak barrels ( casks ) cross the Guildhall Yard, in a relay style race, embracing the fun, tradition and fellowship of the Livery Companies.

Many different teams entered the event including The Worshipful Company of Innkeepers, Coopers, Merchant Taylors, Educators, Communicators, Household Calvary and other City organisations.

The Gunmakers team put on an excellent show, in searing temperatures winning all three of their heats and entered the final knock out stages. Unfortunately, we were knocked out by the Household Calvary who were running two teams and rotating these teams to gain fresh legs !!

The overall winners were the Merchant Taylors in a very close final against the Coopers.

The post The Inter Livery Cask Race 2025, 21 June 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Annual Inter-Livery Rifle Shooting, 6 June 2025

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:54:00 GMT

The post Annual Inter-Livery Rifle Shooting, 6 June 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Past Master Emeritus Richard Purdey1942-2025

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:06:00 GMT

The post Past Master Emeritus Richard Purdey1942-2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

A Tour and Shoot with Gallyon Guns, 7 May 2025

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:12:00 GMT

The post A Tour and Shoot with Gallyon Guns, 7 May 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

VE Day 8 May 2025

Sat, 10 May 2025 08:57:00 GMT

The post VE Day 8 May 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The King’s Armourer Clothed as an Honorary Liveryman & Our 388th Birthday Celebrations

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 11:23:00 GMT

The post The King’s Armourer Clothed as an Honorary Liveryman & Our 388th Birthday Celebrations appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Inter-Livery Pancake Races, 4 March 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:35:00 GMT

The post The Inter-Livery Pancake Races, 4 March 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Master Certificates and City & Guilds Professional Recognition Awards 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:13:00 GMT

The post Master Certificates and City & Guilds Professional Recognition Awards 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Shepherd Neame Brewery, 21 February 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:07:00 GMT

The post Shepherd Neame Brewery, 21 February 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Grand Madeira Dinner, 19 February 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:01:00 GMT

The post Grand Madeira Dinner, 19 February 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Charity Court, 6 February 2025

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 18:55:00 GMT

The post The Charity Court, 6 February 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Royal Air Force Air Cadets’ Annual Awards – 31st January 2025

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 09:02:00 GMT

The post Royal Air Force Air Cadets’ Annual Awards – 31st January 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Martin-Baker Factory 24 January 2025

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:42:00 GMT

The post Martin-Baker Factory 24 January 2025 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Quills & Drills’ Lunch 19 December 2024

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:29:00 GMT

The post Quills & Drills’ Lunch 19 December 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Christmas Court, 5 December 2024

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 10:30:00 GMT

The post The Christmas Court, 5 December 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Christmas Carols at The Tower, 4 December 2024

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 10:26:00 GMT

The post Christmas Carols at The Tower, 4 December 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Nomination Dinner, 5 November 2024

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:40:00 GMT

The post The Nomination Dinner, 5 November 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Lord Mayor’s Show, 9 November 2024

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 11:27:00 GMT

The post The Lord Mayor’s Show, 9 November 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

IMechE Engineering Heritage Award, Tuesday 22nd October 2024

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 11:07:00 GMT

The post IMechE Engineering Heritage Award, Tuesday 22nd October 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Lord Mayor’s Visit, 3 July 2024

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:57:00 GMT

The post The Lord Mayor’s Visit, 3 July 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Summer Banquet, 24 June 2024

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 17:44:00 GMT

The post The Summer Banquet, 24 June 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Riflemen’s Day, 17 April 2024

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 17:33:00 GMT

The post Riflemen’s Day, 17 April 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The King’s Birthday Parade, 15 June 2024

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:00:00 GMT

The post The King’s Birthday Parade, 15 June 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Inter-Livery Cask Race, 8 June 2024

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:53:00 GMT

The post The Inter-Livery Cask Race, 8 June 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Tower Visit, 6 June 2024

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:27:00 GMT

The post The Tower Visit, 6 June 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Inter-Livery Clay Shoot, 15/16 May 2024

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:10:00 GMT

The post The Inter-Livery Clay Shoot, 15/16 May 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Audit Court and Court Dinner, 18 April 2024

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:02:00 GMT

The post The Audit Court and Court Dinner, 18 April 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Riflemen’s Day, 17 April 2024

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:42:00 GMT

The post Riflemen’s Day, 17 April 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Certification Panel, 27 March 2024

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:20:00 GMT

The post The Certification Panel, 27 March 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Master Certificates and City & Guilds Professional Recognition Awards 2024

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:03:00 GMT

The post Master Certificates and City & Guilds Professional Recognition Awards 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Inter-Livery Pancake Race Shrove Tuesday 2024

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:26:00 GMT

‘ Rain, rain go away, come back another day. ’ Well, it wasn’t exactly rain that stopped play at this year’s 20 ^th Inter-Livery Pancake Races held on Shrove Tuesday, but a persistent light drizzle that made the Guildhall Yard ‘unplayable’. The outfield was just too slippery.

All the Masters, Runners and Supporters decamped to the crypt of the Guildhall where alternative variations of the competition were held.

First, a parade of the Novelty Runners strutted their stuff to show off their imaginative and, in some cases, spectacular outfits endorsing the Lord Mayor’s charities. One sported flashing trainers, another was a green Gherkin (Really? Ed.) and another Shard! Sadly, and yet again, The Gunmakers failed to field a relevantly costumed racer … we must try harder next year!

Masters and Liverymen’s heats were then held. These ‘Runners’ stood 6 at a time and against the clock had to toss (or flip) their pancakes the most times in a timed minute. Our Master performed with adventurous panache in attempting not the most flips but the most times to stick his pancake to the Crypt’s ceiling! Although this performance generated great hilarity amongst the spectators it did not take him through the rankings to the Final.

Lunch was provided by the Clink, and everyone enjoyed this new version of the event. Perhaps the event’s motto should henceforth be, ‘Adapt and Overcome’?

The post The Inter-Livery Pancake Race Shrove Tuesday 2024 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Nomination Dinner 2023

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 14:59:00 GMT

Our Nomination Service was held, by kind permission of the Reverend Stephen Baxter, last November in St Stephen Walbrook. Phoebe Chow was the organist who enthralled the congregation with her playing. This was the overture to a wonderful evening for the Company. This well attended service was led by our Chaplain, Colonel the Reverend David Cooper.

After our procession to The Mansion House, Dr Tom Hughes was Clothed as a Liveryman Gunmaker. This was the penultimate act of Master McBeath’s year.

The last act of Master McBeath’s year was to present, to the delight of the Company present and abroad, Past Master Richard Gallyon with his Lifetime Achievement Award. Richard is a sixth generation gunmaker whose outstanding reputation and industry at his family business earned a Royal Warrant in 1938 and was only reluctantly surrendered in 2000. Richard was Clothed as a Liveryman 50 years ago in April 1973 and was Master of our Company in 1982 and 1997.

Another very good parade of 250 diners attending the Nomination Dinner was chaperoned by a smart Stair Guard from 31 (Tower Hamlets) Squadron Air Training Corps, commanded by Flying Officer Edward Simmonds, to a welcoming champagne reception in the Salon before enjoying a four-course banquet. Guests included the Masters of the Armourers and Brasiers, the Bowyers and the Fletchers’ Companies; Major Richard Glover, OC B Sqn (The Guards) The Light Dragoons; Mr Simon Metcalf MVO, The King’s Armourer and Ms Emma Mawdlsey, Keeper of The Tower Armouries. Fifteen new Liverymen were welcomed to the Company by taking wine with the Master for the first time. Musical entertainment was provided by the London Fanfare Trumpets.

During the course of the dinner in the Egyptian Hall of the Mansion House, our new Master was installed. Lt Col Simon West OBE was Clothed by the Retiring Master, Mr Rowlie McBeath, assisted by our new Beadle Andrew Williamson. Col West read the Declaration of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers.

It was a splendid evening and a great start to another Livery year.

The post Nomination Dinner 2023 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Horners’ Trophy returns to the Proof House – Interlivery Clay Shoot, 18 May 2023

Wed, 31 May 2023 14:14:00 GMT

The Gunmakers’ Company fielded 5 teams this year at the Interlivery Clay Shoot, held for the first time in its 29 years at the West London Shooting School.

The weather was kind and the sun shone down on the participating liverymen who represented over 70 companies. The enjoyment was clear as they tackled the varied targets, including a challenging four man 80-bird flush.

With the pressure on the Gunmakers to achieve results, the Court team were victorious, winning the Horners’ Trophy, a clear 35 targets ahead of the Farriers who were second. The prize included £500 for the winning company’s charity.

Liveryman Mark O’Dowd shared the top side by side score with a very impressive 71 ex 80, with the side by side team as a whole achieving 2nd place in their category. Liveryman Colin Burrows shot a magnificent 75 ex 80 being pipped into second place by only one clay. The full score board is …here…

After the excitement of the shooting, the various teams retreated to the marquee for a very enjoyable lunch and to socialise and discuss the clays that got away.

A great day was had by all and credit must go to Past Master Roddy Richmond-Watson and his team for running such a smooth event at WLSS and to Chris Parr and Richard Farrand for their overall organisation of this hugely popular and successful interlivery competition. And a big thank you also to the Master, Rowlie McBeath for supporting the teams on the day.

(Next year’s event is on 15 and 16 May 2024)

The post Horners’ Trophy returns to the Proof House – Interlivery Clay Shoot, 18 May 2023 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers to the Tower, 22 March 2023

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:59:00 GMT

Locking up the Proof House at the end of a day’s work is an important part of the routine. But whilst we have been doing it for a few hundred years, that cannot break the impressive record set by the Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London where the Ceremony of the Keys has been conducted by them and their predecessors since the 14th century.

At 9.53 pm precisely, the Chief Yeoman Warder, dressed in Tudor watchcoat and bonnet, and carrying a lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the Escort to the Keys, a military escort made up of armed members of the Tower of London Guard. The Warder passes his lantern to a soldier, and marches with his escort to the outer gate. The sentries on duty salute the King’s Keys as they pass. The Warder first locks the outer gate and then the gates of the Middle and Byward Towers. The Warder and escort march down Water Lane, until they reach the Bloody Tower archway where a sentry challenges: ‘halt, who comes there?’ The Yeoman Warder replies, ‘The keys.’ ‘Whose keys?’ ‘King Charles’s keys.’ ‘Pass then, all’s well.’ The Warder and escort then march down to the foot of Broadwalk Steps where the main Tower Guard is drawn up to meet them. The party halts, and the officer in charge gives the command to present arms. The Chief Warder steps forward, doffs his bonnet, and proclaims: “God preserve King Charles”. The Guard answer: “Amen!”, at which point the clock on Waterloo Barracks strikes 10pm and the Last Post is sounded. On this occasion, the Constable of the Tower, General Sir Gordon Messenger, took the salute and addressed the assembled onlookers.

Following the ceremonial, Gunmakers (a strong party of sixty plus) retired to ‘The Keys’, the Yeoman Warders’ own bar, for refreshments and a raffle. It was agreat privilege to be included and thanks to Jimmy, our Yeoman Warder, for his detailed and somewhat gruesome run through the history of the Tower, and Steward Bill Blacker for arranging an excellent evening.

The post Gunmakers to the Tower, 22 March 2023 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers to watchmakers; Livery visit to the Bremont factory, 1 March 2023

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:07:00 GMT

On 1 March, Gunmakers were warmly welcomed to “The Wing” in Henley-on-Thames, Bremont’s state of the art 35,000 sq ft manufacturing and technology facility. With synergy between gunmaking and watchmaking, the introduction was followed by some lively questions and answers, after which there was a fascinating guided tour of the facility. The Machining Room featured machinery which worked to tolerances of 2 microns (a human hair is around 70 microns thick), with the testing and assembly workshops also demonstrating impressive precision. As well as seeing the past and the present, the group were also given a glimpse of Bremont’s future watchmaking vision. After a thoroughly immersive three hours, the onsite boutique allowed the visitors to try on some of the beautiful timepieces produced by the company. No trip would be complete without the opportunity for Liverymen to socialise and so the next call was to a local hostelry for refreshment and reflection. The proceeds from the very modest tour charge benefitted two charities – both Bremont’s Jon Egging Trust and the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust.

The post Gunmakers to watchmakers; Livery visit to the Bremont factory, 1 March 2023 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Inter Livery Pancake Race 2023

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 18:26:00 GMT

Shrove Tuesday means one thing for the Livery, for the last 19 years at least, and that is the Poulters’ Company Inter Livery Pancake Races, held in the Guildhall Yard. This year, on Tuesday 21 February, 42 Companies provided teams of runners and followed a tradition that is over 600 years old.

For the Inter Livery races, proceedigs are started with the crack of the Gunmakers’ cannon, fired this year with enthusiasm by Upper Warden Simon West. Our runners were the Master – Rowlie McBeath, Liverymen Donna Stevens and James Davies, all of whom made valiant efforts in their respective heats, running and tossing at the same time. Whilst they were not amongst the winners, the prize or pleasure for participating was in the plentiful pancakes. Racing was following by a very sociable gathering and lunch in the Guildhall Crypts.

The post The Inter Livery Pancake Race 2023 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

To Mansion House and a new Master, 2 November 2022

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 09:31:00 GMT

The Company returned to Mansion House for the Nomination Dinner and of course the installation, in time honoured fashion, of a new Master. The Master elect assisted by the Beadle donned the Master’s Gown and read the Declaration of the Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers:

His predecessor then invested him with the badge of office, sometimes called the jewel.

Over 250 diners, including Liverymen their guests and Company guests enjoyed a champagne reception followed by a four course banquet with fine wines in the splendour of the Egyptian Hall. The Post Horn Gallop played by trumpeters from the London Fanfare Trumpets entertained and amused everyone in the traditional style afterwards. Guests included Read Admiral Robert Pedre, Commander UK Strike Force, Colonel Paul Johnson, Commandant Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Major Luke Dodington, 2i/c the Light Dragoons, Sam Perry, the Birmingham Proof Master and Peter Whitehead from the British Proof Laboratory. Two Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust sponsored apprentices, from James Purdey & Sons, Henry Clews and Macie Gray were also guests of the Trust and gave a display of their craftsmanship during the reception.

The post To Mansion House and a new Master, 2 November 2022 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 21:09:00 GMT

It was with deep sadness that we learnt, this afternoon, of the death of our beloved Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth the Second.

In her seventy years of service to the Nation and the Commonwealth, Her Majesty defined the words devotion and duty. In times of sadness, joy and great change, she shared our pain, laughed with us and has been our constant.

The Gunmakers’ Company send Members of the Royal Family our deepest condolences.

‘God Save The King’

Thursday, 8 September 2022

The post Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Fly fishing treat for Gunmakers at Holbury Lakes, 16 July 2022

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 13:19:00 GMT

Court Assistant Carl Langton and Freeman of the Company Julie Steadman took up the very kind offer, courtesy of Steward Charles Bettinson, of a day’s fly fishing at Holbury Lakes, Romsey, Saturday 16 July. With proceeds to the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust and a great opportunity firmly seized, our two novices were looked after extremely well by their host. Novices, possibly not, but on the blistering hot day they managed bags of five and seven respectively.

Congratulations and grateful thanks to Charles for sponsoring the day.

The post Fly fishing treat for Gunmakers at Holbury Lakes, 16 July 2022 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Lord Mayor visits the Proof House for a proof briefing, 7 July 2022

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 15:40:00 GMT

The Master, Wardens and members of the Court were honoured to receive the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor, Alderman Vincent Keaveny, at the Proof House on 7 July. The visit, which followed a busy Court meeting, included a comprehensive tour and briefing on the Company’s business – the proof of firearms – as well as its charitable endevours. The Lord Mayor expressed his fascination and also added admiration for the work being undetaken by the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust in support of apprentiships.

The Lord Mayor joined the Court and other guests, including representatives from the Company’s affiliates the Martime Battle Staff and the No.2 Company City of London Army Cadets, for lunch in the Court Room. The event was an opportunity for the Master, Major Graham Hill, to present the Company’s prize to Corporal Daniel Pettersen for his “ outstanding contribution to the Maritime Battle Staff’s endeavour “. He also presented a cheque in favour of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and a History of the Gunmakers’ Company to the Lord Mayor.

The post The Lord Mayor visits the Proof House for a proof briefing, 7 July 2022 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Livery visit to the Purdey factory, 4 May 2022

Wed, 25 May 2022 12:18:00 GMT

A small group of Gunmakers were privileged to visit and tour the Purday factory in Hammersmith on 4 May.

Very much “working” factory, this was a rare opportunity to witness first hand the place traditional methods of manufacture meet state of the art technology. The group met many of the artisans who create these very fine ‘best English’ guns. The three hour tour of the shop floor covered all aspects of factory activity and culminated in a visit to “the Hub” where treasures such as Her Majesty The Queen’s first .410 is housed.

Lunch in a local pub afterwards provided the opportunity to compare notes and enjoy the society of Gunmakers.

Numbers for such visits are naturally limited, but it proved to be extremely popular and the hope is to repeat it or something similar each year.

The post Livery visit to the Purdey factory, 4 May 2022 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Riflemen’s Day at Bisley, 27 April 2022

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 13:12:00 GMT

After a two year break due to Covid, the Company’s traditional Riflemen’s day at Bisley was back on. Five teams of five Gunmakers and their guests, including marksmen and novices, assembled at Bisley on an overcast and slightly breezy day to take to the ranges.

Before that there were bacon butties, coffee and briefing at Cottesloe Lodge, which was the base for he day, by kind invitation of Liveryman Jim McAllister. A superb barecue lunch punctated the shooting.

To the results; top in the Stalkers’ Test was Liveryman Derek Stimpson, Mini McQueen was Robin Curtis, Running Deer was Liveryman Patrick turner, Running Boar was Liveryman Jean-Louis Holtzhausen and the 1000 yards was our marksman Patrick Turner again. See …here… for all the results.

Coaching was provided courtesy of the British Sporting Rifle Club and thanks were to them and to Liveryman Derek Stimpson (Honorary Archivist) for making all the arrangements for a very succssful and enjoyable event.

The post Riflemen’s Day at Bisley, 27 April 2022 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Nomination Dinner 2021, and a new Master

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 14:34:00 GMT

In time honoured fashion, the Clerk declares to the assemble diners at the Nomination Dinner:

The Master Elect puts on the Master’s Gown, reads his Declaration and is invested with the Badge of Office by his predecessor. He holds the keys to the Proof House aloft in triumph, and thus starts another year in the life of the Gunmakers’ Company, with a new Master in charge.

For those who were able to attend, the Nomination Dinner this year on 10 November in the splendid surrounds of Clothworkers’ Hall was a great success. There was a strong turn out at the Service of Thanksgiving held at St Olave’s Church beforehand and the chatter in the reception suggested that Gunmakers and their guests were in excited mood and pleased to be back face to face again.

The outgoing Master, Daryl Greatrex, in his speech, welcomed guests, including from our affiliated units, and announced the prizes – Ms Saija Koskialho, the McMillan Trophy winner and Lance Corporal Yugman Rai, the top DSEME Armourer (not present). The new Master, Major Graham Hill VR, made a clear commitment to the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust, stated the importance of supporting the Proof House and drew attention to the healthy programme of events for 2022. As ever, he concluded with the Toast:

Photographs for the evening may be viewed and ordered at Gerald Sharp Photography … here …

The post Nomination Dinner 2021, and a new Master appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Back from Mali – update on the Light Dragoons

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 11:52:00 GMT

Gunmakers will remember the superb response to the call for Christmas boxes for members of the Company’s affiliated Regiment, the Light Dragoons, who were deployed to Mali, in support of UN peacekeeping operations. Time has now moved on and the Task Group’s final 28 day patrol in theatre saw sandstorms and breakdowns in the challenging terrain, with temperatures up to 46 degrees C. In conducting the first cordon and search operations the UN had carried out in Mali, a number of caches were found containing weapons, ammunition fuel and equipment. A huge success and a great reputational win for the Regiment and the first deployment of UK forces in the country. With the deployment now over, the Regiment were all safely back in the UK by mid June, bringing to an end an incredibly busy two years.

It won’t be a surprise, but the rear party left at home were also busy, with Covid-19 response tasks, as well as some back to basics training, refining their basic soldiering skills. Individuals have also deployed to the swamps of the Louisiana, to the British Embassy in Cairo and to the rolling hills of Otterburn training area. On top of that, the Regiment’s Triathlon team managed to win the Army Sprint Triathlon Championships at Castle Howard.

As this period of the Regiments diary draws to a close, so does the tenure of Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Robinson. He hands over to Lieutenant Colonel Jon Harris, who will lead the next charge.

Follow the Regiment on twitter: https://twitter.com/LDLightCav?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

The post Back from Mali – update on the Light Dragoons appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Smoke and smiles all round – the summer clays and family barbeque, 9 July 2021

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:25:00 GMT

The West London Shooting School was the venue for the inaugural Summer Clays & Family Barbeque held on Friday 9 July 2021.

With newly purchased Gunmakers caps, Liverymen, their family and friends were challenged to a wide variety of targets, which included sporting clays and the chance to try a rifle at the running boar. Liveryman Jamie Ede and his wife Serena very generously offered black powder, and the thrill of experiencing shooting with a 150 year old muzzle loader – smoke and smiles all round, with proceeds from participants (£250) going to the GCCT. The course cumulated at the flush where all teams were able to shoot simultaneously at a sequence of clays including driven, high tower, rabbits and flash clays.

Shooting over, it was time to repair to the clubhouse terrace to enjoy a barbeque, glass of something refreshing and to catch up with fellow Liverymen and friends. A wonderful afternoon and great to see young people and non shooters participating in our sport.

The Livery Committee would like to thank the team at West London for their warm welcome and for hosting such a memorable day. And many thanks also to all the Liverymen and their families who turned out to support this event, which it is hoped can become a regular feature in the Company Calendar.

The post Smoke and smiles all round – the summer clays and family barbeque, 9 July 2021 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Success at the Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot, 24 June 2021

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 09:54:00 GMT

One arrangement that was unchanged this summer was the Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot, 24 June, which went ahead at Holland & Holland as planned. Also unchanged was the resounding success of the four Gunmakers’ teams, which came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 8th. Individual scores were pretty good too, with Liverymen Mark O’Dowd and Colin Burrows achieving the second and third highest scores respectively. See … here… for the full results.

Congratulations also to Sean Stacey of the Turners’ Company who, with the top score overall, won the Gunmakers’ Trophy, and our thanks to Chris Parr (Environmental Cleaners) and Richard Ferrand (Fishmongers) for their superb organisation of this most successful of annual events.

Prize winners were:

The Glorious Twelth Team – Marketors A
Alan Ritson Cup, Top Livery – Gunmakers A
Gunmakers Prize, Top Livery Gun – Sean Stacey (Turners)
John Howard Cup Top Indivdule Livery S/S – Mark O’dowed (Gunmakers)
Highest Livery Flush – Day One Bowyers A
Highest Livery Flush – Day Two Info Technologists, Fishmongers B, Gunmakers B
Team Livery Side by Side- Gunmakers S/S
Horners Masters & Court Team – Gunmakers Court Team
Lightmongers Top Gun Ladies – Antonia Pusey (Farrier)
Top Non-Livery Team – Farriers A
Event Wooden Spoon – Woolmen

In all Gunmakers’ prizes generated a welcome £1,000 for the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust.

The post Success at the Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot, 24 June 2021 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers shoot for the best image – photographic competition 2021

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:03:00 GMT

Lock down for some brought about new ideas and activities, with opportunities to shoot that winning image for the Gunmaker Photographic Competition 2021. Entries have now been judged by the Master and Wardens, with expert advice from resident professional, Liveryman Paul Fievez.

Entries were invited in the following categories:

Click here for photographic entries and results

As ‘Technical Assistant’ to the judges, Paul mused about the competition:

“I do so look forward to our Clerk, Adrian Mundin’s annual email. ‘Would I’ – he politely wonders – ‘have some time spare to look at some photos, and prepare a few notes, in case the judges need a little technical assistance or information, when judging the annual Gunmaker’s Company Photographic Competition.’

“Would I have some spare time? Try keeping me away! It has become an annual pleasure for me to ‘assist’ the judges, on the technical aspects of the numerous pictures which are entered for our competition, and I am pleased to note that the standards become higher every year.

“A few days after the initial email, a file of images arrive in my in-box. And I have the pleasure of looking at so many interesting pictures. Some are essentially snapshots. Happy memories of a family event, a shoot, or a day out to a new and interesting part of the countryside, not previously visited. Others, clearly have had much technical knowledge, and creative thinking added to the simple act of ‘clicking the button.’

“All are fascinating to look at, it is always a wonderful experience actually a privilege, to see how other people view the world around us. I do not envy the judges, in their task of selecting the winners in each category!

“Do I have any complaints? Any moans, or groans? Well yes! As a former professional photographer, to me, looking at a situation, visualising the final image, asking myself ‘Would this look good in this, or that magazine, and how would an editor use the picture?’ is second nature.

“My pet gripe, is simply that people stand too far back! Sometimes entrants to our competition want to include everything. The background, the subject, the view, the dog, and so much more. Yes, it all looks wonderful at the moment you press the shutter button, but sometimes the result is disappointing. What looked wonderful at the time, suddenly is full of unwanted clutter…. all of which can detract from the final picture.

“So what advice can I give? Essentially the same advice I would give myself. Be selective. Move closer, choose a different angle, look for items cluttering up the background, or (in the background), the classic telegraph pole, emerging at a slight angle from someone’s head. Cut out the clutter!

“Although now retired, as a former professional photographer, our Clerk, and successive Masters have (quite rightly) barred me from entering the competition! They tell me that I am just not up to standard…….

“This year, whilst sitting in on the judges Zoom conference, I made a comment, the reply to which was….. ‘So next year you will produce a portfolio of three images to show us all how it should be done!’

“Well, sitting on my ‘collectables shelf’ is a 1920’s classic press camera. A Speed Graphic. Possibly many of you have seen such cameras used in films, and on television. So my challenge to myself, is to clean it up, check that it is working, and take some pictures with it!

“Next year, if the judges and our Clerk deem them worthy of being included in a report or round-up of the competition, you can all have the fun of telling me what I am doing wrong! Meanwhile, enjoy every moment that you can, and don’t forget to carry a camera with you.

The post Gunmakers shoot for the best image – photographic competition 2021 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

A profile of the Proof Master, David Miles

Thu, 13 May 2021 13:07:00 GMT

Taking his place as the 28th Proof Master at the Proof House, David Miles is both humbled and honoured to join an organisation which has been at the heart of ensuring firearm safety and quality since 1637.

Between the Proof House in London and the one in Birmingham, which was established in 1813, every firearm made in the UK and imported to the UK is checked to ensure they are safe for use and fit for purpose. While the two organisations operate completely separately, they speak collectively as the British Proof Authority.

From the moment he saw his father open his shotgun cabinet as a youngster and caught a glimpse of the guns inside, David was intrigued. ‘I instantly wanted to hold one and my father said, “When you’re older, you can.”’

Having fired his first air pistol at the age of six and shot his first rabbit with an air rifle by the time he was nine (all under adult supervision of course), and with a family history of cannon making dating back to the 1700s, David’s fascination with guns and outdoor pursuits merely flourished and he began clay pigeon shooting with shotguns before being introduced to game shooting by his father in his early teens.

David went on to complete a law degree at the University of Kent, and with a keen interest in business, he earned an MBA in Business Management from Nottingham University. After a number of years working in the insurance industry, David eventually realised that his passion for guns and shooting was something he wanted to turn into a full-time career. After spotting an advert in a shooting magazine for a position with John Rigby & Co. as a gunroom assistant, which David describes as a ‘unique coincidence’, he was determined to get the job.

(Image courtesy of John Rigby & Co)

Joining an organisation with a history of almost 400 years, David appreciates the significance of his new appointment. ‘The magnitude of its importance is sometimes underrated. The Proof Houses in both London and Birmingham and the proof procedures have increased the standards of the safety of firearms to a point where our armed forces could safely use them to defend the country while sportsmen and women can safely use firearms as part of a recreation sport and hobby. Stepping into something that’s much bigger and older than myself and being given the opportunity to carry out a role that’s been in existence since 1637 is a great honour.’

The post A profile of the Proof Master, David Miles appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, 1921 – 2021

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 16:29:00 GMT

It was with great sadness that the Gunmakers’ Company learnt of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle. The announcement from Buckingham Palace read:

‘ It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh .

His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.

Friday, 9 April 2021

Passionate about wildlife and conservation, he was a keen shot and a great country sports enthusiast. Several best English Gunmakers held his Royal Warrant and he took particular interest in our apprentices. His legacy is of the numerous organisations he inspired, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which have made a difference to so many lives. His selfless sense of purpose and support of Her Majesty The Queen will be his enduring hallmark.

The Union Flag flies at half mast on the Proof House.

The post His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, 1921 – 2021 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers in support of the NHS II

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:29:00 GMT

Whether it be engineering innovation, packing and dispatching or food, Gunmakers have been doing different things to support the NHS and vulnerable people during the pandemic.

Since March last year, Mustard Foods co-founded by Liverymen and James Durrant, have supplied over 300,000 meals to the NHS staff and vulnerable people direct and through charitable organisations. Everything has been done at cost with the principal aim of ensuring those in need are fed. They are currently supplying over 10 hospitals across these London NHS Trusts, including the Proof House patch in North East London, turning out more than 10,000 meals a week.

The post Gunmakers in support of the NHS II appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Gunmaker’s Apprentice

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 15:20:00 GMT

In annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships 8 -14 Februry, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said: “National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to highlight the amazing opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy”. The feature below tells how one gunmaker and his apprentice are keeping alive a very fine craft and tradition:

Richard Rumbelow came to the traditional crafts of gunmaking by a very modern route: watching YouTube videos about gunsmithing. With help and support from the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust, he found his way to an apprenticeship with Michael Louca at Watson Bros. Watson Bros. are located in Tower Bridge Road London, and proudly advertises itself as “ the only London gunmaker still owned by a gunmaker” – in this case, Michael Louca himself. Determined to pass on the skills he started learning at an apprenticeship with James Purdey & Son, one of the best-known London gunmakers, Michael has trained six apprentices already. Richard is his seventh. In the fourth year of a five-year apprenticeship, Mr Rumbelow should soon be ready to take his place in the trade.

British gunmakers tend to rely more on manual work than their continental counterparts, who increasingly rely on machines to shape metal and wood. So, the apprenticeship is a long and varied one.

Apprentices gain skills in all aspects of the craft: from putting a fine oil finish on a gun stock to designing and crafting the intricate machinery of trigger and lock. Few other trades force the craftsman to balance so many conflicting goals. It is worth noting that each apprenticeship within gunmaking is a separate craft, few gunmakers go on to master other crafts, for example, a barrel maker learns the craft of making all forms of shotgun barrels, a stocker – woodwork and not necessarily the finishing. A best gun must be light to handle gracefully, strong to withstand the shocks of gunfire, and beautifully finished to please the eye.

That is why an apprenticeship is only the beginning of learning the trade of gunmaking. It gives the apprentice sufficient skills and knowledge to learn more, but there are always new problems to solve and skills to master. As Michael put it: “ this is only really the starting point in the art of gunmaking. In Gunmaking and engineering, you are always learning, and solving issues, or thinking ad developing new ideas ”.

While apprentices typically gain a broad background in all aspects of the trade, most inevitably find one or two areas that particularly fascinate them. For Richard, it is locks, the mechanisms that hold and release the hammer, triggers, and those that eject fired cartridges from the barrels. He is helping Michael to develop a new ejector system for side-by-side shotguns, showing that there is still room for innovation after over 150 years of ejector development.

Indeed, the balance of tradition and innovation provides much satisfaction to both Richard and Michael in their work. Richard explains: “ I really like to make and create. There is a real sense of achievement and personal satisfaction from knowing that you have made something from the raw material or repaired something that is more than one hundred years old. When I am working on a gun which is perhaps 130 years old, I think my work is going to give it another 130 years of life ”.

Gunmaking has recently been recognised as an endangered skill by the Heritage Crafts Association. It has created a “ Red List ” of crafts which it considers worth preserving and is undertaking a multi-year study on how best to nurture them. For its part, the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust, the charity of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, provides up to five bursaries each year to help support apprentice gunmakers. By providing outside support, the bursaries cover the lost time and productivity which a master gunmaker devotes instead to teaching, rather than making guns.

Michael hopes that Richard will cap his apprenticeship in the traditional way – by presenting a piece of his work to a jury of his peers in the trade. The Certification Panel of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, made up of established masters of the art of gunmaking, each year judges the work of several young gunmakers. Those deemed worthy are presented with a certificate showing them to be worthy of continuing a career as an independent gunmaker.

Meanwhile, Richard, though only 22, is already teaching his skills to yet-younger generations. He has long been an active Army Cadet. The Cadets helped to spark his interest in guns and gunmaking in the first place. He is now teaching “ Skills at Arms ” to the Cadets. And so, another link in the chain that has maintained the fine craftsmanship of British gunmaking is forged.”

For more about the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust and the support available to employers of trainee gunmakers and apprentices, contact: clerk@gunmakers.org.uk

The post The Gunmaker’s Apprentice appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

St Giles Trust reports on the Gunmakers’ fundraiser

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:05:00 GMT

Following the magnificent fundraising effort in 2019 by Past Master Diana Berry in support of the St Giles Trust and the Royal London Hospital’s Violence Reduction Trauma Unit in 2019, the trust has now produced its impact report. The campaign raised some £75,000 from Gunmakers and friends and has ensured the provision of a case worker to work with the Major Trauma Centre at the Royal London, which treats some of the most seriously injured patients across London, including victims of violent crimes such as assault and gun or knife crime. The number of young people admitted aged 11-25 is high. By offering them help at a time when they are most in need, this pioneering work breaks the cycle of violence thus preventing the young people being discharged back to the same situation which put them in hospital in the first place. Assistance was also provided to a sister unit in Coventry. Read more …here…

The post St Giles Trust reports on the Gunmakers’ fundraiser appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Latest – London Proof House remains open

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 14:09:00 GMT

Following the Government’s latest C19 lockdown announcement, the London Proof House will remain open. To ensure the safety of staff and customers, Covid-19 safe arrangements will be in place. To assist with this, customers are asked to contact superintendent@gunmakers.org.uk before making a delivery. Read the Proof Master’s notice …here…

6 November 2020

The post Latest – London Proof House remains open appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers v Bowyers 25 September 2020

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:46:00 GMT

Having been moved on from June due to the lockdown, the annual match finally took place between two of the Warrior Companies at a Shooting School in West London on 25 September. With all social distancing measures in place two teams of four each fought for honours with shotgun, rifle and of course longbow over sporting clays, a running boar and archery targets (only just static due to very high winds).

The Gunmakers were fortuitously ‘blown’ on target though Liveryman Alastair Irvine showed incredible grouping with a second end of 44! The Upper Warden took high score on the clays on 35/40 with Ben Glazier of the Bowyers leading the archery score with a 63. A rabbit flush to finish caused consternation to some, but seemed to be enjoyed by all, the Gunmakers Court team lead the field letting only two away.

Honours were regained this year with a full team score of 274 to 258.

The post Gunmakers v Bowyers 25 September 2020 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Blackpowder shoot, 24 September 2020

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:20:00 GMT

A small team of Gunmakers and black powder enthusiasts, some in almost full Victorian attire complete with tall top hats, assembled in the Ann Valley in Hampshire on a bright, breezy and occasionally showery September day to try their hand on partridges with mid 19th Century muzzle loaders.

Amongst the expected clouds of black powder smoke a number of game was cleanly dispatched by the novice muzzle loaders. Aided and abetted at a social distance, Liveryman Jamie Ede’s team of experts and enthusiasts, tutored the shooters in the art whilst themselves joining in the odd fullisade with their own weapons.

The Master and Renter Warden, with Honorary Curator David Williams (imaged below) in fine, but crumpled top hat, along with Francis Lovel and host Jamie Ede beautifully displayed these weapon’s effectiveness. All enjoyed a day with firearms proofed some two centuries earlier, but retained in fine working condition.

A day out to be recommended and many thanks must go to Jamie and his team for putting it on.

The post Blackpowder shoot, 24 September 2020 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Horners’ Trophy returned to the Gunmakers

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:08:00 GMT

In a year of cancellations and postponments, the Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot finally took place on 9 September at the Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds. Organisers Chris Par (Environmental Cleaners) and Richard Ferrand (Grocers) did magnificently to satisfy all the new requirements of C19. The Gunmakers’ Company, despite being restricted to only four teams, managed to uphold their honour. The Court team retained the Horners’ Trophy. They were also the top team overall, but new rules meant that they could only take home one cup and so the Ritson was passed to the Mercers this time. Liveryman Mark O’Dowd top scored for the winning side by side team and all four teams finished in the top ten. See here for the overall scores. Winnings by Gunmakers’ teams were generously donated to the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust.

The post Horners’ Trophy returned to the Gunmakers appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Award of Gunmakers’ Certification 2020

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 14:05:00 GMT

Following their apprenticeships in gunmaking at James Purdey & Sons Ltd, Messrs Hulsters, Dinham Price, Morris and Ackerman were presented with the Award of Gunmakers’ Certification by Mr Roddy Richmond Watson, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, at the Proof House on 10 September.

Back in February the candidates each submitted an example of their work to the Gunmakers’ Company Certification Panel for critical examination by master craftsmen and directors from the trade, and faced questions on their work, their technical knowledge and gunmaking in general. Chairman of the Panel, Court Assistant Simon West said members were:

‘ impressed by the very high standard of craftsmanship, dedication to their work and the enthusiasm displayed by the candidates. And in summing up, the Panel had agreed that their passion for gunmaking, commitment to the trade and the very effective and positive relationship between employer, trainer and apprentice were obvious for us all to see. The candidates were a great credit to themselves, and all concerned with their training, and are thoroughly deserving of the Award of Gunmakers’ Certification’ .

Their achievement was marked at a much reduced C19 influenced event at the Proof House, when the Master presented Certificates. For several of the recipients, their proud fathers, from as far afield as Devon and Birmingham, were there to witness. Proud fathers in some case who themselves had received their Gunmakers’ Certification a decade or two ago!

The Certification Panel welcomes masters and apprentices from across the gunmaking crafts to consider applying for this prestigious award. Click … here … for further details.

The post Award of Gunmakers’ Certification 2020 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers and the Judgement of Paris

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:47:00 GMT

Not Greek mythology, but rather as reference to the famous Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, in essence a competition between New World and Old World wines from the USA and France. Organised by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant, French judges carried out two blind tastings: one of top-quality Chardonnays and another of red wines – Bordeaux wines from France and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from California. To everyone’s great surprise then, the Californian wine was rated the best in each category. Move to an online date over Zoom on 2 July 2020 and here was the Gunmakers’ opportunity to revisit the Judgement, this time organised by the Livery Committee and the Tring Winery.

There was nothing virtual about it – top quality wines up to £107 per bottle from the two parts of the world were decanted into 8 individual 50ml tasting measures, and sent out to the 23 participants. Cheese was recommended for those who wished. The evening started with a tasting of a white Bordeaux whilst the concept was explained. There followed three pairings – one white (Chardonnay) and 2 red wines (Pinot Noir and a Bordeaux blend). The idea was not to guess the country of origin but rather to vote on your favourite wine of each pairing. The evening concluded with a discussion of the results over a port-like wine from the USA. And the outcome – well neck-and-neck.

A great informal get together was the main point and this was achieved in abundance – with thanks to Julie Steadman of the Livery Committee who orchestrated the whole event.

The post Gunmakers and the Judgement of Paris appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers that go down to the sea in Lifeboats

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 11:10:00 GMT

There is a small band of ‘those that go down to the sea in ships’ who other sailors most respect and have reason to give much thanks. Our Lifeboatmen. They bring into sharp focus everything that is the ethos of the sea; a can-do courage, professionalism, and an innate desire to go to those in distress.

Mountainous seas seem far removed from the grouse moors or shooting range, and so you may be surprised to learn that at least two Gunmakers are Lifeboatmen, Renter Warden Graham Hill and Past Master Chris Price. Mr Price has just completed writing his first ‘Lifeboat Book’, about his experiences over 28 years at Coverack and Falmouth.

In his foreword he mentions the many hundreds of ‘shouts’ and the emotional and physical challenges described from the perspective of a crew member. Despite seasickness, he has got on with it and like all Lifeboatmen he has seen the power of nature at sea, tragedy and death and how it bonds a crew. There are lighter moments too.

Read the full foreword … here …

The post Gunmakers that go down to the sea in Lifeboats appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Covid-19, Proof House opens again – update

Thu, 14 May 2020 08:05:00 GMT

Following the announcement by the Government of some relaxtions, the Proof House will re-open on Monday 18 May. Deliveries will be accepted, but unfortunately ‘Priority’ jobs cannot be taken until the backlog is cleared. Expectation is that a ‘normal’ service will be resumed from Tuesday 2 June. Strict Covid-19 safe procedures will be in force.

Read here the Proof Master’s letter to clients.

For any urgent enquiries, please contact the Proof Master at: proofmaster@gunmakers.org.uk

The post Covid-19, Proof House opens again – update appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers’ photographic competition 2020 – winners announced

Mon, 11 May 2020 13:24:00 GMT

Gunmakers entered 46 photographs in the three categories. Some were great snaps, others were of the standard that one might find in a quality newspaper. Images were of shooting and dogs, of Easter blossom and flowers, and cooking.

Liveryman Paul Fievez (retired professional photographer) commented that ‘ the general standard very high ’, and, notwithstanding the limitations of smartphone, which many use, he said ‘ there are some highly creative and imaginative pictures with a generally very good technical quality. The entrants have clearly put time, and effort, into making some very good images’ .

The Master and Wardens met online to judge last week and to decide a winner and runner up in each category. It was not easy.

Under ‘ best country sporting ’, comments included; Carl Langton: A classic : almost a gun catalogue shot. Louise Baltesz: Run for your life : although probably a snap on a smart phone, the speed of reaction to see what was happening and managing to take a picture was superb. Lynne Moore A nod to the old days : a really great picture post card image. Derek Stimpson: Indian Bison : a simple, but beautifully composed image. The engraving grabs and holds the eye and makes one want to know more about the gun and its’ story. Louise Baltesz: Walking out : a classic sporting picture. It is well composed and evokes a feeling of being part of the group on a good day on the moor. David Richards: Bringing in a runner : almost professional! Exceptionally well caught, well composed and no clutter. See all entries for this category here .

The winner was David Richards: Bringing in a runner , runner up Louise Baltesz: Walking out and special mention for Derek Stimpson: Indian Bison

Turning to ‘ something for Easter; new life ’. Diana Berry: White Apple Blossom : a technically competent picture in sharp focus with the background nicely diffused . Sean Guiness: Water Tower, Sky on Fire : well composed and technically very well taken. Louise Baltesz: Bluetit at dawn : Caught the moment nicely and Louise Batlesz: Quince blossom : well framed, with good colours and nice use of the light. Nicole Escue: Easter in the wood : notoriously difficult to get the colour, but the bluebells are caught in just the right light. An impressive picture. William Hetherington: Cherry tree in blossom . blue skies, pink blossom, nice spring day – what more do you want? See all entries for this category here .

The winner was William Hetherington: Cherry tree in blosso m, runner up Nicole Escue: Easter in the wood and special mention for Louise Batlesz: Quince blossom

Finally, ‘ life in isolation; a view from lockdown ‘. Diana Berry: Polish a cannon : a clever picture and a subtle idea technically well executed. Louise Baltesz: Every road is : also very clever and creative idea, which tells the story (almost newspaper quality). Will Lobb: Remote Office at the Farm : evokes the notion of remote working – a nice idea. William Hetherington: Dog and toy : a really nice portrait with masses of detail. Colin Burrows: Lockdown Spring 2020 : a superb idea, which has been well executed. Bill Blacker: prove you’re a gunmaker : a very imaginative picture, showing a high degree of technical competence. Good composition and well lit. See all entries for this category here .

The winner was Bill Blacker: prove you’re a gunmaker ,the runner up Colin Burrows: Lockdown Spring 2020 and special mention for Will Lobb: Remote Office at the Farm.

The Master and Wardens pass on their congratulations to the winners and all those who submitted photographs to the competition. Images are posted on the website for all to see (I have omitted those with children).

We are most grateful to Liveryman Paul Fievez whose expert advice assisted the judges. He has also provided some excellent advice to the Gunmaker Photographer; read it here , and make the best use of that smartphone when you are next out and about, since plans for a photographic competition, to be judged next year, will be announced later in the summer.

The post Gunmakers’ photographic competition 2020 – winners announced appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers in support of the NHS

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 08:54:00 GMT

With their traditional custom currently all but non-existent, Helston Forensics decided to switch focus. Chris Price, Past Master Gunmaker and his team have managed to cram all the equipment from the back of their forensics facility to the front, leaving some 18,000 sq feet, which has been gifted to the NHS for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said ‘everything kicked off at the beginning of April. Not long after the first shipment of bulk NHS equipment arrived by vans and cars from Treliske Hospital at Truro for re-packing and distribution throughout Cornwall, I then had a call from the Cabinet Office – I would normally scream down the phone “we don’t advertise” and slam the phone down, but on this rare occasion I listened. A charming chap said his Department was tasked with listing all offers of help, including warehousing space. He asked if we had refrigerated facilities within the factory, (which we don’t), so I said no. Then we discussed what else we could offer which is 24 hour access, fork lift drivers (me), container and lorry parking and so on. So we are now on the Government website as a facility. Meanwhile, the NHS have a gang of helpers who pack and distribute, bring some life back to our otherwise ghost town of a trading estate.’

The post Gunmakers in support of the NHS appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Master flips to first in the annual pancake race, 25 February 2020

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 14:09:00 GMT

It was Shrove Tuesday and the Poulterers’ Company 16th Inter-Livery Pancake Race in Guildhall Yard. Teams assembled and donned their aprons, gloves and chefs’ hats. Masters wore gowns and novelty racers chose fancy dress – something that represented their Company or failing that, the Lord Mayors’ charities. The Gunmakers’ Cannon, courtesy of Court Assistant Simon West, roared at the start of each race. Running for the Gunmakers’ this year were Master, Roddy Richmond-Watson, Liverymen James Moor, Nicole Escue, and our novelty dressed as a cartridge, David Bontoft. With impressive enthusiasm and speed, and rather less impressive flipping skills, they completed their circuit frying pan in hand, egged on by a cheering crowd. The Master dropped his pancake, caught it mid air, and still managed to win his heat and then the Masters’ final . Congratulation to him, and to the team for their courage, and all those who turned up in support, Simon West for the acting as Number 1 on the cannon and Honorary Archivist Derek Stimpson for the photographic record.

The post The Master flips to first in the annual pancake race, 25 February 2020 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

In memory of Liveryman (Michael) Fergus Harrison Gask (20 April 1976 – 15 December 2019)

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 12:06:00 GMT

Fergus Gask (Fergie) joined the Gunmakers’ Company in 2017 and was elected to the Livery 7 September that year. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, whilst serving as a Corporal with 40 Commando Royal Marines, he reportedly accepted the first surrender of the war by enemy forces. He said at the time, “We started engaging their positions with GPMGs when I noticed this white flag go up. I didn’t know whether it was a trick or not, but I approached the trench anyway, probably a pretty silly thing to do if I think about it”. As well as Iraq, he served in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, retiring from the Corps as a Sergeant.

After the Royal Marines Fergus started working for FN UK / FN Herstal in 2010. In this latter capacity he was a valued customer and great supporter of the Proof House. He was not just a client to the Company but a personal friend to many in the Proof House and will be greatly missed for his loyalty and great sense of humour.

A memorial service was held at St Laurence, Hawkhurst, on 31 January 2020, the church the Rector pointed out, where Fergus had been both baptised and married. With over 400 people present, attendees included the Immediate Past Master Diana Berry, the Proof Master and Proof House staff, as well as the Commandant General Royal Marines and other senior military personnel. His cap and military honours with the Union Flag were displayed in the chancel and his citation was read out. He leaves a widow, Rebecca and three children, India, Finty and Rufus.

The family have asked that any donations in memory of Fergie be made to the Royal Marines Charity: https://royalmarinesassociation.org.uk/support-us/

The post In memory of Liveryman (Michael) Fergus Harrison Gask (20 April 1976 – 15 December 2019) appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust hands over cheque to VRTU/St Giles Trust

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 12:52:00 GMT

On December 18th, a small group of donors, accompanied by the Clerk and Immediate Past Master Diana Berry, visited the Violence Reduction Trauma Unit at the Royal London Hospital and met with lead trauma surgeon Martin Griffiths and members of the St Giles Trust. The purpose of the visit was to hand over a cheque for £65,000 which had exceeded the IPM’s target to fund an additional case worker for the Trust, her choice of charity for her Master’s year of 2018/9.

It was also an opportunity for supporters to meet and speak with Martin Griffiths and better understand the philosophy behind the specialist unit he has set up at the Royal London. The germ of an idea was sewn when he visited a deprived area of Oakland, California and saw a ground-breaking approach to treating young victims of violence who have no place to go in society, and was inspired to learn from and develop something similar back in London for St Bart’s Health. In doing so, he looked at a number of possible charities that he might work with who could offer the kind of longer-term wrap-around care of victims who had survived attacks, saved by his surgical team, often very young, mainly between 11 and 26 (or younger), generally male. For this he chose St Giles Trust, because of their unique model of using caseworkers who have themselves faced the issues, overcome them and are now using their skills and experiences to support others.

Martin offered some surprising statistics – for instance only 5% of attacks were gang-related. It was much more about kids in society with no hope, no trust (in police, authority, school teachers etc.) and little (or no) support at home. They run into trouble, don’t know how to resolve a problem, turn to violence, use an easy weapon, thus catastrophic rise in knife crime.

The surgeon explained the principles behind the approach – which could take weeks, sometimes months. First, let them sleep. Often stunned to be alive still after an attack, they just need sleep, and sometimes do for three days when they realise they are safe, away from risk of attack or reprisals. Then the work of the St Giles case workers begins. This is about being non-judgemental, building up confidence, explaining to victims what they are entitled to (these are people least likely to accept help). Often school exclusions, out of PRU’s, it is about bringing them round to understanding that they can make choices in life, empowering them, and acquiring skills no matter how basic. Yes all the usual triggers are there – poor home life, lack of a father figure, tumbling into drug and gang culture, above all poverty – but the choices are there, Martin maintains, and the success rate is holding up – the policy is working and since St Giles has been involved the unit has seen readmission rates of young victims of violence go from 40% to just 1%. His aim is to create a society that looks after itself.

Meanwhile, Martin’s vision for London is to help and encourage all the main hospitals to follow suit and become hubs for this form of treatment. The Gunmakers’ group was given a special tour of the unit which can receive up to eleven cases at speed from all over the area – and included visiting the helipad equipped with a state-of-the-art helicopter at the ready, the roof of the hospital with a specially constructed zig-zag of ramps to race casualties on stretchers straight to a connecting ‘crash’ lift to the unit in emergencies.

The Immediate Past Master re-iterates her thanks to all members of the Gunmakers Company and friends for their generous support of the chosen charity of her year, local to the London Proof House in the East End.

The post Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust hands over cheque to VRTU/St Giles Trust appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Past Master Russell Wilkin receives honorary award from the Gun Trade Association

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:09:00 GMT

Past Master Russell Wilkin receives an Honorary Fellowship of the Gun Trade Association from GTA Director Colonel Simon West at the Gun and Allied Trades Association Dinner on 12 December 2019.

The post Past Master Russell Wilkin receives honorary award from the Gun Trade Association appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers to Portsmouth, 19 November 2019

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 17:10:00 GMT

To foster relations between Company and our affiliates, the Maritime Battle Staff in Portsmouth, a small group from the Court were invited by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns OBE, Commander UK Strikeforce, to visit the Naval Base. Major Matthew Williams RM greeted us on arrival, and we were taken on a guided tour of HMS Victory by the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander BJ Smith. A fascinating couple of hours was spent seeing all parts of the ship and learning about naval phrases still used in common parlance today. This was followed by lunch at the Admiral’s residence Bonaventure House, a seaborne tour of the dockyard in HMS Ranger , a P2000, which took us close to the newly arrived and still to be commissioned aircraft carrier Prince of Wales . We finished with a visit on board the highly capable HMS Duncan , the sixth Type 45 Destroyer, which was featured recently in a Channel 4 documentary.

Our thanks to the Royal Navy for a fascinating and hugely informative day and we hope to host a return visit to the Proof House soon!

The post Gunmakers to Portsmouth, 19 November 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Gunmakers hold their annual Nomination Dinner at the Mansion House and install their new Master Mr Roddy Richmond-Watson

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 12:28:00 GMT

By tradition the Company begins the evening of its annual Nomination Dinner each November with a service of Thanksgiving , this year at the Lord Mayor’s Church St Stephen Walbrook adjacent to the Mansion House, by courtesy of the Rev’d Stephen Baxter. The service was conducted by the Gunmakers’ Honorary Chaplain, Col the Rev David Cooper who gave a barnstorming address woven around the lesson read by the Outgoing Master, 2 Samuel 1.17 when David laments the death of Saul and his son Jonathan. Former Lord Mayor, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley kindly played the organ accompanying a soprano solo and trumpet for Geoffrey Burgon’s Nunc Dimittis (from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) while trumpet descants were provided for the hymns including ‘For All the Saints’ in recognition of the proximity to All Saints, All Souls Day and in remembrance of those Liverymen who have passed away during the year, Past Master David Caldow, Past Master Garter King of Arms Conrad Swan, and liveryman Peter Dineley.

The Outgoing Master and Wardens returned to the Mansion House where they received 340 members of the Livery and their guests before processing into dinner led by prize-winning Air Cadet drummer Louis Sacarello, whose fellow cadets had provided the footguard for the reception.

During dinner, in the Egyptian Hall, guests were entertained with the Post Horn Gallop which suddenly burst forth from the gallery, provided by London Fanfare Trumpets. Initially presided over by the outgoing Master, Mrs Diana Berry took wine with the new Liverymen, and later spoke about the Company’s achievements during the previous year, thanking the many people who had made them happen, in particular helping to hit the target for her Master’s charity. She also spoke about the Company’s military liaisons and announced that the Gunmakers’ Class I Armourer’s Award had been awarded to Lance Corporal Adam Mountain of the Royal Marines, the first time it had been won by a Marine. She also presented the McMillan Trophy to Vincent Lafont pointing out that it is not necessarily awarded every year (see photo)

Mrs Berry thanked the representative Lord Mayor Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley for not only acting host on behalf of the Lord Mayor but also for lending his skills at the organ. Finally before proposing the Civic Toast, the outgoing Master drew attention to the appropriateness of the Gunmakers’ Company dining on Bonfire night with the ditty: Please to remember The Fifth of November, Gunmakers’ powder and shot; I see no reason Why the Gunmakers season Should ever be forgot

The installation of the new Master Mr Roddy Richmond-Watson followed, who then spoke a little of his background, describing himself as ‘a simple Oxfordshire farmer’ which his audience well knew to be far too humble a description. The grandson of a Cumbrian farmer who headed south to become the founder of the West London Shooting School in 1901, Mr Richmond-Watson continues the family business today making him well placed to recognise the challenges ahead for shooting in all its forms.

The new Master then welcomed the Company guests who included Rear Admiral Andrew Burns OBE, Commander UK Maritime Forces; Colonel Ed Heal OBE, Commandant, Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers; Major Matthew Williams, Royal Marines, MBS; and Major Daniel Lenherr, 2 i/c The Light Dragooons. He then introduced the guest of honour, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Lamont of Lerwick, before proposing a toast to all the guests. Lord Lamont talked about the history of duelling, and how he shared with the new Master a love of ornithology, and then touched on Brexit only by saying that everyone would do well to recall the words of Her Majesty the Queen before the Scottish Referendum, that she hoped ‘”people will think very carefully about the future” . The evening closed with a Stirrup Cup.

The post The Gunmakers hold their annual Nomination Dinner at the Mansion House and install their new Master Mr Roddy Richmond-Watson appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Past Master Richard Gallyon wins book award

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 11:53:00 GMT

The Cambridge Association of Local History has just awarded legendary gunmaker Richard Gallyon (Master 1982 and 1997) Local History Book Award for 2019 for his major work on the story of his family’s business, Gallyons, Gunmakers of East Anglia, which was established 1784. We offer him our heartiest congratulations.

For a review of the book on this site /gallyons-gunmakers-of-east-anglia-a-book-review-by-derek-stimpson/10/

The post Past Master Richard Gallyon wins book award appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers’ Coronation Thames Flotilla Shield retrieved after 66 years!

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 11:43:00 GMT

A series of painted shields with the arms of livery Companies appeared in a West Midlands auction website earlier this year including one for the Gunmakers. They had apparently been taken down from Spitafields. Despite the good efforts of the Honorary Curator David Williams and Liveryman Mark O’Dowd, the shields were sold off in groups and disappeared into the trade. Some months later a Liveryman of the Haberdashers’ kindly alerted the Clerk to say their own Company shield had turned up with a dealer in the Brighton Lanes, along with the Gunmakers’. This time the Gunmakers’ shield was successfully acquired.

The original purpose of the shield remained a mystery but it was taken along to the East India Club and shown at the Gunmakers apprentices’ on 9 April as part of the Company’s display as shown here with Clerk Adrian Mundin and Assistant Clerk Alex Palacios.

In August, David Williams while looking at photographs in the Keith Neal archives suddenly recognised the shield as the one on the front of the Gunmakers’ – and Stationers and Newspaper Printers’ – barge on the Thames, The Maid of Kent, which took part in the Livery Companies river procession to celebrate the Coronation of Her Majesty the Queen in 1953 as shown in the picture below.

The post Gunmakers’ Coronation Thames Flotilla Shield retrieved after 66 years! appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Constable of the Tower of London visits the Proof House for a tour of the Proof House

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 12:50:00 GMT

The post The Constable of the Tower of London visits the Proof House for a tour of the Proof House appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Master as a Freeman of the City of London exercises her ancient right to drive sheep across London Bridge

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:41:00 GMT

The post The Master as a Freeman of the City of London exercises her ancient right to drive sheep across London Bridge appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

East India Club Game Shooting Day

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:07:00 GMT

The post East India Club Game Shooting Day appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Charitable News

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:50:00 GMT

The post Charitable News appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The inspiration for the Lady Gunmakers’ scarf

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 16:40:00 GMT

A while back, liveryman Joanna Booth mentioned at a meeting that the time had come for the Gunmakers’ Company to have something more serious to offer to the gently increasing number of women joining the Livery. She pointed out that when a man took his Livery oath, he was presented with a silk tie, in either blue or green, incorporating the proof mark and arms.

When Jonathan Young became Master he picked up on Joanna’s idea and tasked his Upper Warden to research the idea and have a scarf ready by the time she took office as first female Master in November 2018. But, more to the point, with an eye honed by years of magazine-editing, he had an idea for the design. Why not use the replica makers’ Mark Plate hung behind the door in the Receiving Room?

Although not intrinsically an object of beauty, it was nonetheless of great historical importance, being ‘struck’ with the individual maker’s marks from the earliest days of proof (1645 to 1784) thus representing some of the most famous London Gunmakers of all time. But the question was how to make it work.

By a stroke of luck the Upper Warden, at a charity dinner at Pewterers’ Hall, spotted in a brochure of pewter exhibition pieces, a single scarf in silk crèpe de chine. Commissioned by Sir Andrew Parmley when he was Lord Mayor it was patterned with interlaced swans and vines, representing his livery companies. The designer was the metalworker Gordon Robertson and she tracked him down, inviting him to the Proof House.

The former Clerk was dubious that the designer might not ‘get’ what the Gunmakers was all about, and the Upper Warden was nervous it was going to be a wasted trip. Mr Robertson was duly shown round the workshops and the various treasures in the Court Room such as the polychrome carved wood coat of arms and the Company jewel but nothing quite seemed to click – until the Upper Warden pulled back the Receiving Room door and showed him the strike plate. The response was instantaneous. ‘I can do something with that’ – and he started snapping away with his camera.

Scottish-born, but now based in London, Gordon Robertson, it transpired, had begun his career in printmaking and printing on textiles before he moved on to etched metal surfaces for tableware, furniture and jewellery. Pewter became his favourite material and through the Pewterers’ Company he became a QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) Craft Scholar, twice winning the Pewter Live award in 2012 and 2013, then joining the Pewterers’ Company as a Freeman. Thus by serendipity Gordon’s combination of training in metalwork and textiles perfectly combined the skills needed to create a design in silk for a Company wholly occupied with metal.

His final design in blue and silver of centrifugal ever-decreasing makers’ marks like a bullet traveling down a barrel, centred by the London Proof Mark, GP crowned was inspirational. Smartly edged in dark navy with a GP crowned in each corner, the design neatly incorporated the Company emblems.

Made in 100 per cent pure silk, from Macclesfield, the original home of English silk manufacture, the scarves are printed on 18oz twill and measure 90cm by 90cm. They have a machine-rolled hem that looks as good as hand-stitched, and bear a Made in England label.

The Company at first commissioned a limited edition of 50, in presentation boxes with a numbered certificate. In addition to one for the first Lady Master, the outgoing Master was able to present Number 1 of the edition to his Consort, Caroline Young at his outgoing Nomination Dinner as a thank you for her support during his year in office.

While each future new Lady Gunmaker will be presented with a scarf when they join the Livery, the Court took the decision that the scarves could be offered for sale to members of the Company and that the design should be replicated for gentlemen’s handkerchiefs (pocket squares).

These may be ordered from the Assistant Clerk, assistantclerk@gunmakers.org or by telephoning the Proof House 00 44 207 481 2695 (press option 5)

Scarves £150 each (includes p&p, and a presentation box)

Pocket squares £50 each (includes p&p, and a presentation box)

The post The inspiration for the Lady Gunmakers’ scarf appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Apprentice Jamie Holland of Rigby’s awarded Gunmakers’ certificate of excellence

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 11:12:00 GMT

The post Apprentice Jamie Holland of Rigby’s awarded Gunmakers’ certificate of excellence appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Gunmakers’ Autumn Lunch

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 13:57:00 GMT

On September 12th the Company held its Autumn Lunch, this year at the beautiful Tallow Chandlers’ Hall in Dowgate Hill, by kind permission of the Master, Anthony Green. Guests were welcomed by the Master, Diana Berry, and Past Masters Robert Pitcher and Jonathan Young, and Upper Warden Roddy Richmond-Watson, for a champagne reception in the courtyard in glorious Indian summer sunshine, before lunch at which the guest speaker was Professor Andrew Roberts.

The Autumn lunch has, by tradition, picked a centenary theme, this year focusing on Winston Churchill in 1919. No better person to speak on this subject than Professor Roberts, author of ‘Churchill, Walking With Destiny’,
A very fascinating talk by Andrew Roberts which, despite the hardback being long sold out, still led to queues to buy a signed copy of the paperback of ‘Walking with Destiny’.

Historian Andrew Roberts signing copies of ‘Churchill, Walking with Destiny’ for guests after the Autumn Lunch

The post The Gunmakers’ Autumn Lunch appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Captain Matthew Purdy RA wins the Gunmakers’ Trophy at Her Majesty The Queen’s Prize at Bisley, 27 July 2019

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 16:22:00 GMT

At the final day of this year’s Queen’s Prize at Bisley on 27 ^th July, organised by the NRA, Captain Purdy was this year’s Gunmakers’ winner. An outstanding long range shot, Captain Purdy won the new competition which is made up of the aggregate of the two 1,000 yard shoots, shot on the Monday and Wednesday of the 9 day Annual Prize Meeting for Target Rifles. During the week he also won numerous other long range (900 and 1,000 yards) trophies. He is only the second person to take the prize, a fine Georgian silver cup which had been languishing in the Museum at Bisley and was re-instated last year under the new rules

Matthew Purdy started Target Rifle shooting aged 13 at Gresham’s School in north Norfolk, and continued to shoot through university, and has been selected to shoot for England and Great Britain on several occasions. Commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 2015 and seen service in Estonia and the Falklands, he is now training as an instructor in Air Defence. We wish him the best of luck for his future army career.

For more details on the history of the silver trophy visit:-

The post Captain Matthew Purdy RA wins the Gunmakers’ Trophy at Her Majesty The Queen’s Prize at Bisley, 27 July 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to the Proof House, 22 July 2019

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 10:24:00 GMT

We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Peter and Lindy Estlin to lunch at the Proof House on 22 ^nd July. It was perhaps one of their final engagements before a summer break and already seemed in holiday mood, out to enjoy themselves. We did enquire of the Mansion House who would be coming with them to be told they were coming unaccompanied as ‘we knew they would be perfectly safe at the Gunmakers!.

Having duly arrived in the Mayoral taxi, the Lord and Lady Mayoress received a full tour of the workshops from the Proof Master, Richard Mabbitt, and witnessed a proof test firing, followed by drinks in the Courtyard and lunch in the Court Room. Others present were Deputy Master and Chairman of the Proof House Committee Rob Pitcher and his wife Caroline, the Renter Warden and his wife Daryl and Diane Greatrex, and other members of the Court and Livery with their spouses. These included some of those who had supported the Master’s charity, the VRTU at the Royal London Hospital and St Giles Trust in order that they could also meet guest Martin Griffiths, Lead Trauma surgeon for all London, who came direct from operating all night at the hospital.

The Lord Mayor’s three charities for his year – Samaritans, Place2Be and OnSide Youth – have perfect synergy with the VRTU/St Giles Trust as – particularly OnSide Youth – offer safe spaces for children after school, in distress or need of help while Place2Be focuses on a similar policy within schools. The Lord Mayor spoke of all these charities – particularly as Mr Griffiths was well known to him – and then wrapped up with a most amusing and apt story for the Gunmakers involving two army officers at a dinner, one very long and boring speech, and the meaningful placing of a pistol on the table…

The post Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to the Proof House, 22 July 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Inter Livery Shoots, 2019

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 14:33:00 GMT

The Inter Livery Clay at Holland & Holland, 15-16 May

It did not pass the Gunmakers that the results for the inter-livery clay shoot were announced at Guildhall at the same time that the Company was elsewhere, enjoying its Summer Banquet. However, that did not deter and the Assistant Clerk was dispatched from Painters’ Hall to monitor the announcements and duly collect the prizes.

The event itself took place this year over two days, 15-16 May at Holland & Holland. The Gunmakers were allowed 7 teams which, despite the ‘format’ being adjusted to spread the prizes, acquitted themselves well. The Court Team (John Browning, Daryl Greatrex, Graham Hill and Carl Langton) were top in the Masters and Court Team, thus retaining the famous Horners’ Trophy. They also won the Top Livery Team thus retaining the Alan Ritson Cup. Gunmakers B Team won Best side by side (David Williams, Patrick Hawes, Francis Lovel and Mark O’Dowd). And finally, while Nicole Escue was the runner up overall for the ladies, she was the top livery lady shot.

Congratulations and well done to the teams, with winnings of some £1,500 going to the Gunmakers’ Company Charitable Trust. Our grateful thanks to the organisers of this hugely successful event, Chris Parr of the Environmental Cleaners and Richard Ferrand of the Fishmongers.

Stop press

2 6th Inter Livery Clay Shoot, Holland & Holland will take place 13-14 May 2020
Young Inter Livery Clay (under 40s) Saturday 16 May 2020 (if the demand is sufficient)

I nter Livery Rifle Shooting, Bisley, 31 May 2019

Teams of three competed in the Bakers’ Inter Livery Rifle Shoot at Bisley, 31 May. Team Gunmakers won the Running Boar thanks to the amazing score by Liveryman Patrick Turner, who also won the overall highest individual score as well. Liveryman Peter McGowan came joint first, with a full 100 out of a 100 in the Sniper Rifle . Proceeds from the day were in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

The post Inter Livery Shoots, 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers to Bisley, 24 April 2019

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:39:00 GMT

Twenty one Gunmakers and guests turned out for this key annual event, organised by Liveryman Derek Stimpson and Upper Warden Roddy Richmond-Watson. As with all the best events, the day started with bacon rolls, before shooting then got underway. A little rain and some breeze was included and added to a fine day which was kindly and efficiently hosted by Steve Wallis and colleagues from the Great Britain Sporting Rifle Team, at the British Sporting Rifle Club facilities. The Artists Rifles Clubhouse provided a fascinating venue for lunch and tea. The Master, Diana Berry, concluded the day with prize giving, with Champagne going to: Alice Gran Stimpson for top score on the Running Boar , Erskine Berry for the Mini-McQueen , Rupert Blackwell for the Swedish Deer , Michael McGowan the Stalkers’ Test and Patrick Turner for the Target Rifle . Richard Black’s team won overall for the highest number of points.

The post Gunmakers to Bisley, 24 April 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

A Lifetime Achievement Award for Gunmaker Ron Johnson

Wed, 01 May 2019 15:28:00 GMT

The Court Dinner this year had the rare privilege of witnessing the first Lifetime Achievement Award made by the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers. Devised to recognise a lifetime of excellence in gunmaking, it was awarded with great pride by the Master to Liveryman Ron Johnson at the Court Dinner in Pewterer’s Hall 11 April 2019. In his citation, Ron was described as

… a renowned craftsman, well known for his skill in gunmaking in general, and in barrel browning and blacking in particular, he is held in high esteem by his peers, not least because he embodies the tradition built up over five generations of family gunmaking. His personal qualities are equally respected: his dedication to quality, to the continuous improvement of his skills and to the spirit of fellowship within the trade and the Livery. In making this award, the Company considers Mr Johnson to be a truly exemplary gunmaker and is therefore honoured to make it in celebration of his many achievements …

Mr Johnson was accompanied by son and Liveryman Matthew Johnson, and daughters Sarah Van den Hoogen and Samantha Marsden.

A family history is here: (Johnsons Barrel Browners) .

The post A Lifetime Achievement Award for Gunmaker Ron Johnson appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The East India Club Shooting Section’s Inaugural ‘Celebration of British Gunmaking’ 9th April 2019

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:25:00 GMT

The East India Club in St James’ Square was host to a multitude of the finest craftsmen and women from across the UK last Tuesday, coordinated by the Shooting Section under Mr Sanjay Bhattacharya and Mr Richard Hobbs. The evening began with an opportunity for Club members to question and learn from all the people involved in the making of their guns – whether it was with rifle makers Mayfair Engineering, or with master Barrel Makers Bill Blacker & Son. All facets of the gunmaking world were on show – engraving (by Ruth Anthony), stocking, action making and more, ranging from the long established gunmaking firms – Rigby & Co, Holland & Holland and Watson Bros – who all make custom shotguns and rifles from start to finish – to the smaller independent makers, such as JP Daeschler. All brought along their apprentices, numbering 10 in total, who were eager to show their work and skills. They did an excellent job communicating their passion for the crafts to the 50 members there on the day, explaining their learning and the importance of maintaining this historic craft. Perhaps the most popular guns on the day were 28-bores, featured by both Watson Bros and JP Daeschler – very lithe, quick handling guns. The Rigby “Rising Bite”, a historic (and now resurrected) design was also on show, alongside plenty of other fine firearms.

The event was formally introduced by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, Mrs Diana Berry. It was the section’s great pleasure to have herself and the Company in attendance on the day, explaining the traditional role of the proof house, as well as the support given by the Gunmakers Company Charitable Trust to many of the apprentices present in the room. Indeed, the GCCT was the charitable focus of the evening, with almost £500 being raised on the day for the Trust. Excellent game canapes from the club chefs (memorably including a squirrel pasty) alongside fine champagne courtesy of Anthony Byrne Fine Wines rounded out the event, which we are sure will be a popular biennial feature of the shooting world in years to come. We are extremely grateful to the East India Club for hosting the event, and to all the attendees and exhibitors who came along on the day to make it such a success.

The post The East India Club Shooting Section’s Inaugural ‘Celebration of British Gunmaking’ 9th April 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Lunch at the Gunmakers’ Company

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:24:00 GMT

Livery lunches are held at the Proof House for members of the Company and their guests around 8 times a year. Before Champagne and a sumptuous lunch, guests have the opportunity to learn something of the Art and Mistery of proofing a firearm, with a workshop brief given by the Proof Master or Superintendent. The common interest of those present is of course shooting and those present on 21 March, were delighted to hear the Master’s guest, journalist Toby Young, speak. He was invited to make the Toast to the Company, but before doing so, treated those present to his thoughts:

. … Before giving the toast I just wanted to say a few words about driven shooting, a sport I’m sure many of us here are passionate about and one that, as the livery company of the gunmakers, you have a duty to defend since there won’t be a need to make any more guns if shooting is banned.

Make no mistake, the same political lobby who got fox-hunting banned have got shooting in their sites.

The League Against Cruel Sports has succeeded in getting pheasant shooting banned on public land in Wales. Thanks to a LACS petition which attracted 12,700 signatures, National Resources Wales has announced it won’t be renewing licenses to shoot pheasant from this month and will be reviewing the leasing of wildfowl shooting rights.

For those of you with short memories, hunting was banned in Scotland in 2002 and then in England and Wales three years later.

And a ban of driven shooting will be like a ratchet: once it’s been imposed it’s never going to be lifted. We’ve had three Conservative PMs since the fox hunting ban came into force and none of them have lifted it.

So we need to get out there and make the case for driven shooting.

And it a shouldn’t be that difficult.

According to a 2014 report commissioned by the Countryside Alliance, shooting contributes £2bn a year to the rural economy, providing full and part-time employment to 350,000 people.

Two million hectares of land are under active shoot management, accounting for 12{d75d5756df4d27bb7c06405cafa060057fd52a8ae2810007ffd499f5fbf5e8f1} of the UK’s rural land. That’s 10 tines the area encompasses by the country’s nature reserves and adds up to an awful lot of copses, hedgerows, headlands, wetlands, ponds and rivers — all lovingly maintained at no cost to the taxpayer.

Much of this land is heather moorland, which has all but disappeared on the Continent. The majority of the world’s heather moorland is in the U.K., thanks to the wisdom and fieldcraft of generations of gamekeepers.

The antis have succeeded in creating the impression that the shooting community is a danger to rare species, but, in fact, the opposite is the case.

By controlling for pests like foxes, crows, stoats and weasels, the keepers protect endangered ground-nesting birds, including black grouse, skylark, grey partridge, curlew and golden plover. Why isn’t the RSPB celebrating this conservation effort?

We should remind people that while shooting may be a sport, after game birds have been shot they’re loaded on to trailers and sent on a journey that often ends in a plate.

If we’re going to win this fight we need to enlist the help of Britain’s millions of shooting enthusiasts. Roughly four million people own air guns in the U.K. and around 1.6m of them shoot live quarry. We need to dispel the myth that shooting is a sport for billionaires and Tory toffs. Or just for men and not for women. It’s a sport that everyone can participate in and we should be doing our best to encourage even more people from all walks of life to take it up.

So to the barricades my friends! Let’s face down this mob and safeguard the sport we all love for the benefit of future generations.

The Gunmakers Company! May it flourish root and branch forever!

The post Lunch at the Gunmakers’ Company appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers bring the sound of gunfire to Guildhall Yard, 5 March 2019

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 16:12:00 GMT

Not clays or game in the air, rather pancakes and the scene of the Fifteenth Annual Inter Livery Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race, brilliantly organised by the Worshipful Company of Poulters, and by kind permission of the Chief Commoner. The guest of honour was the Lady Mayoress, Lindy Estlin who was there to judge the ‘Novelty’ class, ie fancy dress reflecting this year’s Lord Mayor’s Charities, and to present the prizes. Other competitors were provided with a chef’s hat and an excellent apron to keep, embroidered with their Company name, and had to wear gloves (courtesy the Glovers) while running with a hot pan flipping a pancake at key points in the heat. This is in addition to a gown if they are a Master or Warden. The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers provided the lemons, either for the delicious pancakes supplied by Clink (a prisoners’ catering company) or to quench the runners’ thirst.

The sound of gunfire was from the Gunmakers’ starting cannon and pistol, this year ably fired by Lt Colonel Simon West OBE, steward to the Court and chief executive of the Gun Trade Association.

The Gunmakers put up a team of three ladies and one gentleman this year – and it has to be said that only the gentleman distinguished himself, Freeman James Blacker, running as a Gunmakers’ apprentice and winning his heat. The Master ran in the Master’s race, and the Countess of Lucan and Ms Nicole Escue in the Inter-livery and Ladies’ races. They were kindly supported by the Upper Warden Roddy Richmond-Watson and the Clerk, Assistant Clerk and the Honorary Archivist who took the photographs.

Unlike last year, where the races had to be ‘walked’ due to the rain on slippery wet courtyard, when the Gunmakers nonetheless triumphed with then Master Jonathan Young taking the prize for highest tosser, this year’s triumph was Steward West persuading the Lady Mayoress to fire the cannon.

The post Gunmakers bring the sound of gunfire to Guildhall Yard, 5 March 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Children’s Fancy Dress Party at the Mansion House, 5 January 2019

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:47:00 GMT

The first event of the New Year for the Master was to take her two grand-daughters to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress’s Children’s Fancy Dress Party at the Mansion House. In order to qualify for an invitation, children have to be either the sons and daughters or grandsons and granddaughters of a Master or Prime Warden, aged between 6 and 9 years, and must wear either fancy or national dress.

The rules are strict but this Master was lucky in that she has granddaughters Misty Berry (8) and Myla Berry (6). Former Clerk John Allen commented that he could not ever remember a Master Gunmaker having family of the right age to be able to go. However, the Master herself attended as a child and never forgot it. Nor probably will Misty and Myla for it is a party on a level unlike any other.

The Master’s granddaughters in 2019

For one thing, the shape of the afternoon has hardly changed – first a formal presentation of each child (without parent) to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress who are attended by the Sheriffs and the Honorary Artillery Company, quite daunting. Then there is a different entertainer in each room (the Science one was particularly popular), three servings of a vast ‘nursery tea’, being photographed on the Lord Mayoral state chairs, ice cream and lemonade on tap, plus music and a grand finale of the hokey-cokey and conga all through the Mansion House.

The Master in the Lord Mayor’s Chair, Mansion House children’s party 1954

The Egyptian Hall looked spectacular with a huge net of coloured balloons hung from the ceiling, later to descend on the children to take home with a generous goodie bag. Very grateful thanks to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Peter and Wendy Estlin, who made a point of talking to every single child (some 300?)

The post Children’s Fancy Dress Party at the Mansion House, 5 January 2019 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Worshipful Company of Gunmakers – Service of Thanksgiving and Nomination Dinner 2018

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 14:22:00 GMT

The Company’s annual Service of Thanksgiving and Nomination Dinner took place Wednesday 7 November. The service was held at St Martin’s within Ludgate , courtesy of the Rt Rev’d Dr Stephen Platten, and was conducted by our Honorary Chaplain the Col the Rev David Cooper. At a time when remember those members of the Livery who have passed, the Master Elect, Mrs Diana Berry also marked the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice with Dawn on the Somme , a poem written in 1918 by Robert Nicholls:

Last night rain fell over the scarred plateau
And now from the dark horizon, dazzling, flies
Arrow on fire-plumed arrow to the skies
Shot from the bright arc of Apollo’s bow;
And from the wild and writhen waste below,
From flashing pools and mounds lit one by one,
O is it mist or are these companies
Of morning heroes who arise, arise
With thrusting arms, with limbs and hair aglow
Toward the risen god, upon whose brow
Burns the gold laurel of all victories,
Hero and hero’s god, th’ invincible Sun?

Following on, dinner at the Stationers’ Hall was attended by over 200 Liveryman and guests. Outgoing Master Mr Jonathan Young, presided over initial proceedings and spoke of the Proof House and Company’s achievements during his year.

With affiliations an important element of this, he presented the Gunmakers Armourers Award for 2018 to Lance Corporal Jenny Stanley of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

Principal guest, the Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Soames MP entertained diners with wit and generous compliments to the role of the Proof House in maintaining firearms safety.

Other guests included former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall GCB, CBE DL, Colonel Ed Heal OBE, Commandant DSEME, Commander Charlie Reaves RN, Maritime Battle Staff, Dr Edward Impey, Master of the Royal Armouries and Mr Roger Hancox, Master of the Birmingham Proof House.

Photographs from the evening, were taken by Antoinette Eugster and may be purchased by contacting Antoinette at amephoto@btinternet.com .

The post Worshipful Company of Gunmakers – Service of Thanksgiving and Nomination Dinner 2018 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Remembrance Sunday 2018

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 11:05:00 GMT

Mrs Diana Berry, as one of her first duties the new Master, attended a service and wreath laying on Remembrance Sunday, at Lyneham, with the the Company’s affiliated establishment, the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME).

In London, the Company was represented at the service at St Paul’s by the Past Master Emeritus John Jackman and the Clerk. The service was followed by at wreath laying at the Royal Exchange, where the Master Fruiterer laid a wreath on behalf of all Liveries present.

The forecast heavy rain held off for this important and moving occasion, allowing the large crowds present to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those killed in conflict, in particular during the First World War 100 years ago.

The post Remembrance Sunday 2018 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

“Gallyons – Gunmakers of East Anglia” – a book review by Derek Stimpson

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 09:55:00 GMT

A Family Business

Most of us in the shooting world are familiar with the name Gallyon, either through having seen one of their guns, or a reference to it in the literature. We may now be better informed following the publication of Richard Gallyon’s book “Gallyons – Gunmakers of East Anglia”.

The book is very much a family history. Richard explores possible early origins of the family and name, amongst them Gallion Hone, born in Antwerp in 1492 and coming to the UK to become one of the King’s Glaziers. In definitive terms William Gallyon founded the Gallyon business in 1784 and ran it until 1838. This is the first generation. We are then led in remarkable detail along the years until the current and sixth generation. Through the history of the Gallyons we also follow the history of the trade and developments in firearms. From the first generation and matchlocks, wheel locks, and flintlocks, we go on to the introduction of the centre fire breech loader during the third generation – William John Gallyon who was in business from 1850 to 1878. We then see a variety of breech loading shotguns and rifles produced and described in detail as appropriate.

The book is lavishly illustrated throughout. Clearly some of the photographs reflect their age, but we see every aspect of both the family and the business recorded. Many family members are there and reflect a social history of their times. Guns, cases, magazines, the workshops and sales areas, clothing, advertising, local shows and shoots are well represented. Additionally there are photographs of many original documents included – ledger pages, invoices, letters, press cuttings and so on. Shooting activities and instruction are dealt with, and the personalities involved. Try guns, cartridges, and cartridge loading are all there. So we follow the business through its heyday, reflecting the society and shooting of those days, to the closure and sale of the properties in 1992 at a time when pressures on the trade made life increasingly difficult.

Richard wraps up the book with a chapter on the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, of which he was Master in 1982 and 1997. Richard continued to run his business from home and in the last brief chapter he looks at the future of the business and shooting in general.

From start to finish Gallyons made in excess of 26,000 guns – the serial numbers are in Appendix 4. The other Appendices deal with 1 The Family Genealogy, 2 Theodore Gallyon’s 1949 talk to the Rotary and 3 The 1930 Catalogue.

There is no doubt that reading this book will not only produce nostalgia for many of us but will grace our bookshelves as part of our British Gunmakers library!

Derek Stimpson, Honorary Archivist, April 2018

Gallyons – Gunmakers of East Anglia ISBN 978-1-84689-257-8
can be purchased direct from Richard Gallyon for £50 + postage. Please call 01953 850215.

The post “Gallyons – Gunmakers of East Anglia” – a book review by Derek Stimpson appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Army Cadets enjoy challenges of Annual Camp

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 21:22:00 GMT

Past Master Emeritus John Jackman and Liveryman John Allen both received a warm welcome from Colonel Larry Davis, Commandant of City of London and North East Sector Army Cadet Force, and his fellow officers when they attended their annual camp at Crowborough last Sunday. The visit provided them with an opportunity to witness the Sector’s three companies competing against each other in various contests, and to see elements of the training that the cadets were undergoing during the fortnight they were in camp.

At the initial briefing, the Honorary Colonel, Dominic Reid, better known to us as the City Pageantmaster, expressed his appreciation for the support that the Sector receives from the Gunmakers and several other livery companies. Over lunch there was an opportunity to talk to some of the cadets, all of whom were clearly enjoying the experience of camp and learning new skills.

No.2 Company, to which the Gunmakers is affiliated, came second in the Drill Competition and the Tug of War, and was overall runner up in the tournament. The Gunmakers’ Trophy was presented to Cadet Lance Corporal Totski (pictured below), the highest scoring cadet from No.2 Company in the Full Bore Rifle Shooting Competition.

The post Army Cadets enjoy challenges of Annual Camp appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Gunmakers Challenge Trophy presented at Bisley

Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:59:00 GMT

The National Rifle Association Annual Prize Meeting was inaugurated in 1860 and was greatly supported and sponsored. There is a Gunmakers’ Challenge Trophy which was presented to the NRA by the WCoG in 1867. The Company’s Coat of Arms is on the reverse and the front states that it is for the highest scorer in the International Match incepted in 1864 for County militia from the home countries at a time when the NRA’s key purpose was to encourage competent rifle shooting among the civilian Volunteers. Now named the National Match between the four home countries it is a match of 20-a-side from each home country and continues to this day. The National Match trophy is the most spectacular owned by the NRA and kept in the NRA Museum in a secure enclosure. The challenge trophy presented by the WCoG is of the decorated silver of its time and gilded inside.

In 1872 the NRA determined that it was wrong for an individual, aided by coaches, to be presented with a trophy and, from 1873, the Gunmakers’ Trophy was presented to the captain of the winning team. However, the Gunmakers’ Trophy ceased to be awarded to the National Match captain after 1925 and re-appeared in 1927 as the trophy for the winning team of 4 which had taken part in the target pistol series of matches. To all intents, pistol shooting came to an end 20 years ago, save for service teams and is shot for at Pirbright, not Bisley.

By agreement with the NRA the Trophy has been re-allocated to a new event in the NRA Grand Aggregate for Target Rifle – the direct descendant of the standardised rifle specification of 1860, now 7.62mm calibre.

The new competition is made up of the aggregate of the two 1,000 yard shoots, shot on the Monday and Wednesday of the 9 day Annual Prize Meeting for Target Rifles. Target Rifle shooting is just one part of the 5 week Annual Prize Meeting which also includes events such as for the Services, Reserves, Service Cadets and School Cadets.

The Target Rifle is held unsupported, except by a sling and does not have telescope sights. Out of 263 entries, the winner was Dr John Warburton who is a previous winner of HM The Queen’s Prize and the Trophy was presented to him on this first occasion by the Company’s Renter Warden, Roddy Richmond-Watson.

Roddy Richmond-Watson (left) presents the Gunmakers Trophy to John Warburton

The pistol event still continues under the name of ‘Gunmakers’ with 4 NRA ‘gold’ medals awarded to the winning team of the aggregate of the series and was won this year by the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Services’ team with the RAF team, second. The RAF has produced some of our finest rifle and pistol shots, including Mick Gault OBE, the winner of 17 Commonwealth Games pistol medals. There were just 5 entries for the pistol series of events this year.

PME John Jackman 31st July 2018

The post The Gunmakers Challenge Trophy presented at Bisley appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Gunmakers take the prizes at the Inter Livery Clay Shoot

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 11:37:00 GMT

The Gunmakers fielded 8 teams this year, including the first all-women livery team, at the Inter-Livery Clay Shoot, 16 May. Set at Holland & Holland’s superb shooting ground in the west of London, with a fine breakfast to start the day, and a light breeze, conditions were good. Our teams collected a modest 5 prizes: the Top individual Side by Side prize, won by Mark O’Dowd, the Top Side by Side team – who also won the overall team prize, the Top Lady, won by the Countess of Lucan, the Top Court Team, and the Livery Charity prize.

Due to the popularity of the event, which was supported by 105 teams this year, next year’s competition, the 25th anniversary of the gathering, will take place over two days, 15-16 May 2019. Mark your diaries now.

The post Gunmakers take the prizes at the Inter Livery Clay Shoot appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Nomination Service and Dinner

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 16:32:00 GMT

The annual Nomination Service took place at St Vedast Church on 7 November and was well attended by Liverymen and their guests. A retiring collection raised over £500 which was donated to the church.

The Nomination Dinner took place afterwards at Goldsmiths’ Hall which was filled to capacity. During dinner, the Master, Rob Pitcher, presented the Gunmakers’ Award for Excellence in Gunmaking to Mr Ian Sweetman of James Purdey & Sons. He also presented the Gunmakers’ Armourer Award to Corporal Joshua Knight of 7 Aviation Support Battalion.

The Master Elect, JonathanYoung, then made the customary declaration and was installed as Master, after being handed the keys of the Proof House by the outgoing Master.

The principal guest was Simon Hart MP, formerly Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, who gave an entertaining speech about his experiences at Westminster. Other Company guests included The Rev’d Paul Kennedy, Rector of St Vedast, and Colonel Ed Heal OBE, Commandant of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

The post Nomination Service and Dinner appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Visit to Army Cadets’ Annual Camp

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 22:38:00 GMT

Members of the Livery will remember that we support No.2 Company of the City of London & North East Sector Army Cadets which draws its recruits from the Borough of Tower Hamlets. Like its sister companies, it is made up of several detachments, each with its own regimental affiliation.

Their annual camp – of two weeks duration – is the highlight of their activities and was located this year in Thetford. On the middle Sunday guest representatives of those bodies closely associated with them are traditionally invited to visit and to watch the cadets compete against each other for an array of trophies. The Company was represented on this occasion by the Deputy Master and by the Clerk. We were welcomed by their Commandant, Colonel, Jacqui Fogerty, who has been leading the unit and developing it so well in recent years. Now due to retire we wished her well. Its Honorary Colonel was also present, Dominic Reid, better known to us as the City Pageantmaster. After a talk and progress report from the officers, the first event was the drill competition, which I am pleased to say was won by our sponsored company. We were then shown demonstrations of field craft, weapons training and first aid. The final event was the popular tug of war tournament between all three Companies and was followed by the prizegiving. The Gunmakers’ ShootingTrophy was awarded to Cadet CSM Nenartaviciute on our behalf by the Clerk, John Allen.

The annual camp takes the cadets out into the countryside and for many it is their first experience of being away from their home environment. Both officers and cadets welcome the Visitors Day which provides them with an opportunity to show off and explain some of their activities. Without witnessing such an event and meeting the adult officers and cadets (aged from 12 up to 18) it would be difficult to fully understand the beneficial effects that the cadet movement clearly has on youngsters. In our case, many come from difficult and deprived backgrounds, but I cannot overemphasize how self-assured and self-disciplined they become, how they co-operate, work hard, help one another and want to be a force for good in their communities – as well as clearly enjoy the cadet experience. All the guests were asked to take away this message and to do whatever they can to help and support the cadets and their endeavours.

The post Visit to Army Cadets’ Annual Camp appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Nomination Service and Dinner

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 20:28:00 GMT

The annual Nomination Service took place at All Hallows on the Wall Church on 5 November and was well attended by Liverymen and their guests. A retiring collection raised £500 and was shared between the Church’s Fabric Fund and XLP, a charity at the cutting edge of urban youth work in Tower Hamlets and other deprived London Boroughs.

The Nomination Dinner took place afterwards at Carpenters’ Hall which was filled to capacity. During dinner, the Master Elect, John Browning, made the customary declaration and was installed as Master, after being handed the keys of the Proof House by the outgoing Master, John Jackman. The principal guest was Dr Edward Impey, Director General and Master of the Armouries. Dr Impey gave an entertaining speech in which he made mention of the Company’s historical connections with the Royal Armouries. Other Company guests included The Venerable Nick Mercer, Archdeacon of London, and Colonel Mike Pendlington, Commandant of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

John Browning hails from Ogden, Utah and is the great grandson of John Moses Browning, the world-renowned gun designer, best known for developing automatic and semi-automatic weapons. He is married to Dianne and has been resident in London since 1980. He is now a freelance journalist, having previously been employed by The Economist covering business, technology, economics and finance in London and New York, and Wired as their European editor. When not shooting, he enjoys fishing, skiing, riding, photography, and dog training. We wish him every success throughout his year in office.

The post Nomination Service and Dinner appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The Lord Mayor’s Show

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 19:11:00 GMT

The Master, John Browning, took part in the Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 14 November. Together with Masters of the other “Warrior Companies”, and some members of the committee responsible for organising the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the victory at Agincourt, he rode in an open brake, drawn by four black Friesian horses.

The Company has not taken part in the Lord Mayor’s Show since Past Master Clive Richards paraded in a carriage with the Deputy Master, Wardens and Clerk in 2011, followed by some apprentices on foot, drawing attention to the part of the Company in the City. This year’s participation was thanks to the hard work undertaken by Deputy Master John Jackman and the Clerk, John Allen, both of whom were on the organising committee for the Agincourt commemorative events.

The day followed the awful events in Paris, for which a one-minute silence was called – and the fireworks were cancelled in respect for those who died and suffered. In spite of this, the only visible sign of extra security was a helicopter hovering above and the absence of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from the parade. Such is the way it is done in the City.

As a condition of being granted the right to elect its own Mayor in 1189, the City agreed that, on his election, the Lord Mayor should leave the City walls and proceed to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear allegiance to the Monarch. In the intervening 800 years, the parade has only failed to take place on its appointed day once – in 1852 when the date was changed to accommodate the funeral of Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington.

Altogether, there were over 150 floats in the parade representing all aspects of the City: commercial, the Livery Companies, youth, and the military with whom the City is so closely associated. The Household Cavalry band, by permission of HM The Queen, parade in their gold cloaks as a recognition of the financing by the City of such apparel as long ago as the 17th century.

Every year there is something special about the Lord Mayor’s Show. A couple of special features, this year, were the appearance of the Dublin State Coach, made in 1791 and never before seen outside Ireland. Secondly, the adoption of the 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment as only the tenth military regiment accorded the right to march through the City “with colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed” – in thanks for its work in defusing explosive devices.

The weather was unkind and, whilst this and concerns about security may have caused some to stay away, the route was still crowded The day passed with the usual sense of carnival combined with the serious ceremony. In addition to swearing his oath to the Monarch, the new Lord Mayor, Alderman Jeffrey Mountevans, was blessed by the Dean of St Paul’s.

The accompanying Commemorative Programme made several mentions of the Gunmakers’ and included its special role among the City Liveries in the “testing of safety of guns in the UK”.

For the second year arrangements had been made for lunch to be provided for Liverymen and their families at Stationers’ Hall (close by St Paul’s on the route of the parade) along with other Livery Companies. The Master’s lady, Dianne, was present, together with the Deputy Master and the Clerk.

The post The Lord Mayor’s Show appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Commemorating Agincourt

Sun, 01 Nov 2015 15:54:00 GMT

Our Livery was invited in 2013 to join the Agincourt 600 Organising Committee to take part in planning the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of this world-shaping battle. The Court appointed me to join the Organising Committee in a supporting role with the Clerk, John Allen. John Allen had been on the Committee as former Clerk to the Cutlers Company (the only Company to have received its Royal Charter from King Henry V, himself, the victor of Agincourt). We were invited to join as a ‘Warrior Company’ with the Cutlers, Bowyers, Fletchers and Armourers and Braziers Companies.

The committee’s purpose was to promote understanding and commemorations of the battle, including its place in history and to set up a charity fund for these purposes. Funds were raised from various parties including some Livery companies. In the 2015 budget, the Chancellor announced that Government would support this charitable endeavour with a grant of up to £1m. The Gunmakers encouraged an application from British Blind Sport which resulted in the charity receiving a grant of £38,000 for the development of target shooting and archery for the blind.

Most of us learned about Agincourt at school. Stalwart English men with longbows overcame the armoured ranks of French chivalry. Huzzah! It was the great British victory of the Hundred Year’s war, and helped to establish Henry V as theoretical heir to Charles VI, King of France. Had Henry not died of dysentery at 35, just seven years after Agincourt and just a couple of months before Charles VI, he would most likely have become ruler of both kingdoms, and established England as a continental power. Instead, his successors lost the battles of Patay, Formigny and Castillon – and with them the lands England claimed in France. Henry V is buried in his own chapel at Westminster Abbey, with his sword, helm and saddle.

As Lord Sumption, Law Lord and historian, has pointed out, a united France and England would probably have been governed from Paris, if only because the French outnumbered the English. Instead, England developed as an island nation, with Agincourt as a glorious memory of historical bravery rather than a turning point in political history.

Although the Gunmakers’ Company was not formed until 1637, our predecessor companies were involved in providing guns for the campaign in 1415, such guns being mostly involved in the successful siege of Harfleur.

A banquet was held at the Guildhall on 22 ^nd September, fully subscribed and including a number of our Liverymen, to commemorate the financial support given by the City to the campaign to reclaim the King’s lands in France – lands in which the City had great investment.

The Gunmakers also played a special part in a commemorative service held at Westminster Abbey on 29 ^th October, the anniversary of the Lord Mayor and City receiving word of the victory at the battle. On hearing the news, they marched in great procession through the City to the Abbey to give thanks and to honour the (French born) Queen, Catherine of Valois. Together with the Masters of the other four ‘Warrior Companies’, I escorted the sword of King Henry V to the High Altar.

The exhibition on Agincourt at the Tower of London remains open to the public until January and is well worth a visit. The Agincourt 600 web site, www.agincourt600.com , contains a variety of fascinating articles on both the history of the battle and the charities now being supported in its memory.

The post Commemorating Agincourt appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Charity Shoot raises £63,000

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 20:44:00 GMT

Twenty-one teams of four shooters assembled at Holland & Holland’s Shooting Ground last Wednesday in support of the Charitable Trust’s efforts to raise funds for its bursary scheme. The shoot, which had been organised by Liveryman Bill Winget (pictured below) and which had been many months in the planning, was the finale to the fundraising appeal launched by the Master, John Jackman, at the beginning of the year.

Holland & Holland very generously donated the Shooting Grounds for the day and Steve Denny, the Director of Operations, and his team had everything in place for the shoot and the hog roast lunch that followed.

By the end of lunch the scores had been counted and the Chairman of the Trustees, Past Master Colin Sharman, announced the winners. Overall winners, with a grand total of 370, were Jeremy Young (captain), Michael Goliner, Jack Smallman and Stuart Howe (pictured below with the Chairman of the Trustees). The team from West London Shooting School, comprising Roddy Richmond-Watson (captain), Alan Rose, Mark Heath and Diane Wade came second with 368, and the team from Purdeys, comprising James Horne, Tom Cosby, Owen Hastings and Laurie Bayliss, came third with a score of 362.

David Brunt of Holts then whipped up the audience and started to auction the catalogue of lots that had been generously donated. The star lot, offering the highest bidder the opportunity to entertain up to 12 people at home with a dinner cooked by Albert Roux and served by Lord Sharman, went for £6,000. The final lot offered the highest bidder the rare opportunity to fire Holland & Holland’s Spanish naval cannon ‘La Destruiadora’, which last saw action in the Peninsular War and which has become a permanent feature at the shooting grounds. The privilege fell, rather appropriately, to the Master who lit the fuse and then bid a hasty retreat before a loud report, tongues of flame and billowing smoke filled the air.

The auction alone raised £27,000 and after the proceeds of the day had been added up the total raised for the Trust amounted to a staggering £63,000.

A big ‘Thank you’ to all those who participated, those who donated auction prizes, and those who worked behind the scenes to help make the day such success.

(Pictures reproduced by kind permission of Paul Fievez)

The post Charity Shoot raises £63,000 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Liverymen win Gold in European Championships

Sat, 19 Sep 2015 19:59:00 GMT

Congratulations to Liverymen Richard Sharman (pictured below) and David Kent who recently represented Great Britain in the ‘F’ Class European Championships held at Bisley.

The competition is the largest annual ‘F’ class competition in the world with over 200 entrants representing over 20 European States. Shot over 2 days the competition comprises 3 matches held at 800, 900 and 1000 yards. Great Britain comprehensively beat their opponents to take the Open team gold medal.

Richard and David also won individual silver medals, Richard in the first 800 yard match with 75.13 , and David in one of the 900 yard matches. Overall David was placed 9th and Richard 14th.

‘F’ Class shooters seek to push the boundaries and achieve the highest standards of accuracy at long range. The target is half the size of a standard Target Rifle target, the 5 ring being a mere 10” in diameter at 1000 yards.

The post Liverymen win Gold in European Championships appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

First the Ashes, now the Palma

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:20:00 GMT

On 14 August, 2015, Great Britain’s team won one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions in long-range rifle shooting, the Palma Trophy. Given how thoroughly rifle marksmanship has dropped from public attention since the nineteenth century – when the Queen fired the first shot in competitions for the eponymous Cup – it’s little surprise that few noticed. But all the more worthy of a cheer, particularly among gunmakers.

The Palma Match began in the United States in 1876, as part of its centennial celebrations. Then four other nations competed with the Americans for the title of sharpest-shooting country, using black powder rifles and a target with a 36-inch bullseye. The Americans won, handily. Since then, despite interruptions caused by wars as well as lack of organisation and interest, the Match has been contested 28 times. It has expanded to include a rotating cast of 20 countries. This year’s Match was held at Camp Perry, in Ohio – though the venue rotates among competing nations.

The Palma Match is named after its trophy. Created by Tiffany’s, a famous American jeweller, the original trophy stood seven and a half feet tall, and was modelled after the standard of an imaginary Roman legion. Just under the Imperial eagle was the word “PALMA”. (Nobody can quite remember why… probably something to do with laurels and glory.) Embarrassingly, the trophy was lost from outside the office of the US Secretary of War in the 1930s, when the competition was taking a break for the Depression. Given the Second World War, and the need to cobble together a smaller but still similar replacement trophy, the Palma Match was not resumed until 1966.

Today, the Palma Match is shot over three distances: 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Rifles are 7.62mm. Only open sights are allowed. Teams are made up of 16 shooters (to use the rifleman’s word for the person pulling the trigger). They are assisted by four wind coaches and a head wind coach, to advise on the sight adjustments needed to compensate for gusts and breezes. Each shooter has 15 shots to score at each distance, and the course is shot twice over two days.

This year’s winning British team shot a combined 7,106 of a possible 7,200. That was a convincing 79 points ahead of the second-place Americans. South Africa came third with 7010. British shooter Toby Raincock had the highest individual score, with 449 of a possible 450.

The British team was captained by Jane Messer. For each competition, the Council of the National Rifle Association selects a captain, who then selects her (or his) team on the results of competitions in the years leading up to the Palma. This year’s team included engineers, a surgeon, financiers, an analytical chemist, a prep-school teacher, a plumber and a stamp dealer. All take huge amounts of time from day jobs and families in order to keep their shooting to international level.

In addition to the Palma Match, Camp Perry also hosted a number of other competitions during the two-week meeting. Here too, the British excelled. The British under-25 teams won first and second place in the World Under-25 Championship. The British Veterans won the Tony Loughman Memorial Team Match. And the British team also won the America Match, shot at 300, 600, 900 and 1,000 yards.

Correction: The original version of this article claimed the Palma was the oldest international long-range rifle competition. It’s not. The Elcho competition is older. Thanks to John Bloomfield for the correction.

The post First the Ashes, now the Palma appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Army Cadets put through their paces

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 11:46:00 GMT

The Master, Upper Warden, and the Clerk were made very welcome by Colonel Jaqui Fogerty, her fellow officers, and the army cadets of the City of London and North East Sector, when they attended their annual camp at Swynnerton last Sunday. The visit provided them with an opportunity to witness the Sector’s four companies competing against each other in various contests, and to see elements of the training that the cadets were undergoing during the fortnight they were in camp.

No.2 Company, to which the Gunmakers is affiliated, won the Raft Race and the Drill Competition, but just missed out on becoming overall winners when they came second in the Tug of War. The Gunmakers’ Trophy was presented by the Master to Cadet Crudington (pictured below), the highest scoring cadet from No.2 Company in the Full Bore Rifle Shooting Competition.

Over lunch there was an opportunity to talk to Colonel Fogerty and her colleagues, all of whom were clearly very appreciative of the support that the Sector receives from the Gunmakers and several other livery companies.

The post Army Cadets put through their paces appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Waterloo Livery Lunch

Sat, 20 Jun 2015 11:54:00 GMT

Liverymen and their guests filled Cutlers’ Hall on 18 June to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. This was the first occasion on which the Company had held a Livery Lunch away from the Proof House and was enjoyed by all who attended. The menu left one in no doubt as to the decisive battle that was being remembered and comprised the following courses.

Pan Fried Frogs Legs
Watercress Cream Sauce

Beef Wellington
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Sauce
Hougoumont Potatoes
Seventh Coalition Vegetables

Trio of Belgian Chocolate Mousse
Triumphant Coffee Crème Anglaise

The principal guest was Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner KCB CBE who gave a fascinating account of the battle through the eyes of a soldier

The post Waterloo Livery Lunch appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Inter-Livery Shoot at Bisley

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 13:49:00 GMT

Teams of Liverymen drawn from 13 different livery companies gathered at Bisley Camp on 5 June to compete for The Bakers’ Cup . Competitors were faced with the challenge of shooting four different disciplines: 7.62 Target Rifle at 1000 yards, 7.62 Sniper Rifle at 300 yards, Black powder pistol at 25 metres, and .22 Gallery Rifle at 25 and 50 metres. The Gunmakers’ team, comprising Derek Stimpson, David Cooper and Richard Black, particularly excelled with the sniper rifle, and were the overall winners with a combined score of 1501 (ex 1800). Derek Stimpson produced the second highest individual score of the day.

The event, now in its second year, is organised by the Bakers’ Company in partnership with the RAF Target Rifle Club and has already helped to raise almost £15,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

RAF Benevolent Fund Controller Chris Nickols, seen below presenting the trophy to the Gunmakers’ team, said: “The Bisley Shoot is a fantastic event which combines a love of target shooting with support for our Charity. Fundraisers like this are essential for the Benevolent Fund to be able to continue our work supporting every member of the RAF family in their time of need.”

The post Inter-Livery Shoot at Bisley appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Liverymen in HM Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 18:14:00 GMT

Congratulations are extended to two of our Liverymen who have been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen in this year’s birthday honours list. Lieutenant Colonel Simon West RA has been appointed OBE, and Captain Christopher Fagan has been appointed MBE for his services to the Gallipoli Association.

The post Liverymen in HM Queen’s Birthday Honours List appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Summer Banquet

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 11:07:00 GMT

The Company’s Summer Banquet was held in the splendid surroundings of Stationers’ Hall on 10 June. Liverymen and their guests were able to enjoy a champagne reception in the courtyard garden before dinner.

Musical entertainment was provided throughout the evening by the London Banqueting Ensemble who finished with a memorable rendition of the Post Horn Gallop .The principal guest was Dr Christine Rigden, Past Master of the Constructors’ Company who has since been elected Non-Aldermanic Sheriff for the year ensuing. She explained what had attracted her to stand for this ancient office, before proposing the toast to the Company. The Master, John Jackman, presided.

The post Summer Banquet appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Inter-Livery Clay Shoot 2015

Fri, 22 May 2015 14:27:00 GMT

Despite fielding seven teams this year for the annual Inter-Livery Clay Shoot, the Gunmakers were unable to retain the top Livery trophy which went to the Grocers’ Company. However, we did not come away empty handed. Our Hammer Gun team, comprised of Liverymen Nigel Brown, Jason Abbott, Paul Roberts and Derek Stimpson won the Side by Side team prize of £500, which they donated equally between the Company’s Charitable Trust and the Gun & Allied Trades Benevolent Trust. Liveryman Mark O’Dowd won the Individual Livery Side by Side trophy, The John Howard Cup, for the third year in succession and donated his prize money to Trinity Hospice in Clapham. Congratulations to them all.

Organised most ably by Chris Parr of the Environmental Cleaners’ Company, the event attracted some 400 entrants who enjoyed the excellent facilities that Holland & Holland’s shooting grounds provide at Northwood.

The results were as follows:

The Alan Ritson Cup for top Livery Team was won by Grocers ‘A’ with a score of 326
The Gunmakers’ Prize for Top Livery Gun went again to Ross Straker of the Grocers’ Company with a score of 78
The John Howard Cup for top Individual Livery Side by Side went to our Liveryman Mark O’Dowd with a score of 72
Top Livery Team Side by Side was won by Gunmakers ‘A’ – our ‘Hammer Gun Team’ with a score of 295. The team comprised Liverymen Nigel Brown, Jason Abbott, Paul Roberts, and Derek Stimpson (Captain)
The Livery Team Highest Flush Prize was won by Farmers ‘B’ with a score of 71.

The overall rankings of the Gunmakers’ teams were:-

‘A’ – 7th with 295
‘B’ – 11th with 284
‘F’ – 12th with 281
‘E’ – 15th= with 276
‘D’ – 16th= with 273
‘Court’ – 22nd= with 255
‘G’ – 30th= with 237

Next year’s shoot will take place on Wednesday 19 May 2016

The post Inter-Livery Clay Shoot 2015 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Riding for Charity

Thu, 21 May 2015 20:45:00 GMT

Liveryman Roland Elworthy is in training for this year’s Prudential RideLondon which is due to take place on Sunday 2nd August. Some 3000 entrants will set off from the Olympic Park and ride the testing 100 mile circuit on closed roads up and over the Surrey Hills, finishing back in London on The Mall.

Roland is a keen cyclist but admits that he is apprehensive about the gruelling gradients he will have to negotiate when ascending Leith Hill and Box Hill. Having lost his mother and a close friend to cancer, he is hoping to raise at least £1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. He has set up a fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/Roland-Elworthy6 and would very much appreciate your help in meeting his target.

The post Riding for Charity appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Riflemen’s Day at Bisley

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:57:00 GMT

On 14 April, 22 Liverymen and guests gathered at Bisley for this annual event, which is now in its seventh year. After meeting at the Army Target Shooting Club for bacon and eggs and a safety briefing, the five teams set out to shoot on a gloriously sunny Spring day.

There were five disciplines to be shot, each marked out of 100, with some variation from last year. As usual we had a mixture of seasoned shooters and others with less experience. As can be seen from the score sheet, the standard of shooting was again excellent.

Black Powder Pistol: This was shot using modern replicas of .44 Remington New Model Army, solid frame revolvers, of American Civil War fame. Each shooter fired twelve shots at 25 metres, with the best ten to count. The medal went to Patrick Turner for a score of 86.

McQueen: This is a sniping competition shot at 300 yards with Accuracy International ten shot 7.62 rifles with telescopes. The target is a head sized card on a post. There is a “castle” with battlements and windows and after the start is given, the target is held up by a marker in a different window or battlement ten times. Each exposure is for 3 seconds only and the away time (during which the shooter reloads) is 10 to 15 seconds. Even at 300 yards the variable wind had some effect. The medal went to Derek Stimpson with a score of 82.

Target Rifle: Shot at 900 yards, using a 7.62 single shot Target Rifle on a bipod with aperture target sights. Two sighting shots were fired and then ten to count. The wind coaches are vital and the wind was brisk and variable, so it was hard work to keep central on the target, and no one scored 100. Richard Everitt took the medal with 92.

Stalkers Test: As last year, we shot the standard test used by the British Sporting Rifle Club to simulate woodland deer stalking. It was shot at 100 metres with a .223 telescoped sporting rifle on a life size Roebuck target. Two shots prone, then off sticks – two sitting, two kneeling, two standing, and two off the bench. Richard Black won the medal with a score of 98.

Running Boar: Another Sporting Rifle discipline shot at 50 metres with a .22RF rifle with telescope. This is shot standing at a boar target which moves across the shooter’s front in four seconds, during which time a shot is fired, swinging through, with the requisite lead. John Freestone took the medal with 76.

After the shooting was concluded everyone returned to the “Army” for “high tea” and the prizegiving. The winning team with a score of 1868 out of 2500 comprised Richard Black (Captain), Richard Everitt, Robert Parker Swift, and John Freestone, each of whom was presented with a bottle of champagne by the Master, John Jackman. The highest individual scorer on the day was Derek Stimpson with a score of 426 out of 500. His wife Alice was, once again, the only lady shooter.

The post Riflemen’s Day at Bisley appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

The 11th. Inter-Livery Pancake Race 2015

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:26:00 GMT

On Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, this quaint and ever popular Livery gathering took place again in Guildhall Yard. The event is organised by the Worshipful Company of Poulters, in conjunction with The Cook and The Butler and by kind permission of the Chief Commoner. Numbers of spectators seemed even greater than usual – perhaps due to the weather being kind and providing us with sunshine throughout.

The Gunmakers’ team comprised John Browning (running on behalf of the Master in the Master’s Race), Jonathan Young (Livery Race), Claire Zambuni (Ladies Race), Carl Langton (Novelty Race), and the Clerk, John Allen, as Team Manager. Those competing in the Novelty Race were requested to wear something representative of one of charities supported by the Lord Mayor. Carl Langton plumped for the attire of a stereotypical French artist, which was intended to demonstrate the Lord Mayor’s support for the Royal Academy of Arts. The team was supported by the Master, the Beadle, the Honorary Archivist and Liveryman John Taylor. The Proof Master, as usual, provided the starting service with our 10b signal cannon.

Following a blessing by the Reverend Canon Paul Thomas, Sheriff Fiona Adler opened the proceedings by firing the cannon to start the first race – after being cautioned by the Proof Master that the first shot would be rather louder than normal. She duly yanked the lanyard so briskly that the cannon flew off the table (fortunately without any lasting damage).

This year, as always, times were fast – we didn’t win any races but we came second in two – the Ladies and Novelty Races. The results were: The Master’s Race – Tylers and Bricklayers; Livery Race – Butchers; Ladies Race – Information Technologists; Novelty Race – Tylers and Bricklayers; and Victor Ludorum – Butchers.

As can be seen, this event has become highly competitive in all respects, including the food – the thin slightly crisp pancakes with sugar and lemon, served before the races, were as usual delicious. The thicker racing and tossing pancakes were of course bred specifically for that purpose.

With no trophies to collect, the Gunmakers’ team were among the first to retire to the Crypt of Guildhall, where an excellent lunch was enjoyed by all.

The post The 11th. Inter-Livery Pancake Race 2015 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Christmas at the Proof House

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:50:00 GMT

Those who managed to attend this event, despite the transport disruption on the day, were treated, firstly, to a most interesting talk by Liveryman John Slough who described the War Horse Ride he participated in during the summer to mark the 100th anniversary of World War 1. The event commemorated the 8,500 men and the horses of the British Cavalry Division, all of whom played a crucial part in the early months of the Great War. It also helped to raise money for The Not Forgotten Association , a charity supporting wounded or sick members of the armed forces and ex-service men and women with disabilities.

Some 35 riders, each representing one of the regiments and corps that comprised the Cavalry Division, set out to ride 100 miles across northern France over five days following a route that took in the sites of some of the most famous cavalry actions of the opening weeks of the war. Each ride wore the same uniform and carried the same weapons and accoutrements that their predecessors did in 1914. John’s own 13-pdr field gun, drawn by a six-horse gun team, and a contemporary horse drawn GS wagon formed an integral part of the Ride.

At the conclusion of his talk, John presented the Company with a statuette that is an exact replica of the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London.

We were then entertained to carols by pupils from the local English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, before being joined by Santa Claus, laden with presents for the children and adults alike. There was then an opportunity to indulge in mulled wine and Christmas fare. The proceeds of the event were shared between the School and the Company’s charitable fund.

The post Christmas at the Proof House appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Cadet Shooting 2014

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:55:00 GMT

The Upper Warden and Past Master Richard Gallyon represented the Company at the Visitors’ Day of the annual camp of City of London & North East Sector Army Cadet Force held at Thetford in August. The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers is one of a number of Livery Companies which support the cadets and there were also present, among others, the Masters and Wardens of the: Ironmongers; Tax Advisers; Wax Chandlers; Tyler’s and Bricklayers; Cordwainers; Basketmakers; and the City Pageantmaster, Dominic Reid (Grocer). The honorary colonel presiding was John Power (Fletcher). The Mayors of Redbridge and Havering were also there to present certificates of competence.

We also had the opportunity to meet and talk to the current Major General of Reserves and Cadets who is a successor to our own Liveryman the Duke of Westminster. As a Norfolk man involved in agriculture, he had much in common with Past Master Gallyon.

We support no 2 (of 3) Company of the Sector and the day was spent with a presentation about the activities of the cadets including: a drill competition; motorcycle display (cadets who had no more than 6 weeks’ experience of motorcycles); a raucous tug of war competition between the companies and displays of signalling; climbing walls, first aid; food rations and camping kit and firearms. This was followed by a prize giving, where we presented a trophy and prize to the best full-bore shot of no 2 Company, this year it was Cadet Curley badged as Life Guards (cadet). The Cadets from all over our Sector are locally badged with many different regiments and show great pride in their affiliations.

It was demonstrated to the visitors the immense benefit the cadets get from membership — many of whom regrettably come from deprived backgrounds, but gain great self-discipline and confidence from the cadet movement and many join the services later. The ability to learn and handle firearms is one of the several incentives for joining.

One might ask how the visitors fit in with all this. There is no doubt at all that all volunteer officers and NCOs, as well as cadets much appreciate the interest and support of the connection to the City Liveries. For the officers, we provide opportunities to broaden their connections; for the cadets, we provide evidence that the world is watching their efforts and cares about their achievements. For several years, now, our Livery has increased its involvement with the Services under our military liaison officer, Past Master Brigadier Paul Cort. The two other army units supported are the Light Dragoons and School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

The post Cadet Shooting 2014 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Poppy Planting at the Tower

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:00:00 GMT

Today all the Company staff joined forces and played a small part in producing the stunning field of poppies at the Tower of London that commemorated those who fell in the First World War. Led by the Chairman of the Proof House Committee, Past Master Paul Cort, we assembled in the moat and planted some 500 of the handmade ceramic poppies, before repairing to a local hostelry for a well-earned pint of beer. Surrounded by this sea of red, one could not help but reflect on the huge sacrifice that so many have made, both during and since the First World War, in order to defend us.

The post Poppy Planting at the Tower appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Visit to Middle Wallop

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:43:00 GMT

Members of the Livery were privileged to visit Middle Wallop, home of the Army Air Corps, in August and to lay their hands on an Apache attack helicopter. Our host, Major Darren Clements, Officer Commanding Army Flying Standards, explained the history and capabilities of the aircraft which has served the military well in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict since 2001.

The foreboding design of the helicopter leaves one in no doubt that this is a mean machine capable of raining down serious firepower in combat situations. It can operate in all weathers, day or night and carries a mix of weapons including rockets, Hellfire missiles, and a 30mm chain gun bearing our very own proof mark. With the aid of the distinctive Longbow radar located above the rotor blades, it can detect, classify and prioritise up to 256 potential targets in a matter of seconds up to a range of 5 miles. The crew sit in tandem, with the pilot located behind and above the copilot/gunner. Both crew members are capable of flying the aircraft and performing methods of weapon engagements independently. They are equipped with an Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System which enable them to link the helicopter’s gun to their helmet, making the gun track head movements so as to point where they look.

The helicopter is also equipped with a state of the art fully integrated set of countermeasures. The airframe includes some 2,500 lb of protection and has a self sealing fuel system to protect against bullets and rockets. The crew compartment has shielding between the cockpits, such that at least one crew member can survive hits. The compartment and the rotor blades are designed to sustain a hit from a 23mm round.

The post Visit to Middle Wallop appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Inter-Livery Rifle Shoot at Bisley

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 15:50:00 GMT

On 13 June 2014 the first Inter-Livery rifle shoot was held at Bisley. It was promoted by Past Master Baker, Colin Sach, who is a member of the NRA, and organised by the RAF Target Shooting Club, which provided the hospitality and the coaches. The RAF club membership includes a number of international target shooters and Queen’s Prize winners and has a good reputation for organising such ‘corporate events’ to raise money for good causes, this time for the RAF Benevolent Fund. The Gunmakers won.

In sunny weather and a somewhat challenging wind, the 10 Livery teams of 3, plus a scratch team, competed at several disciplines:

At 900 yards using the NRA defined 7.62mm Target Rifle with ‘iron sights’.
A ‘McQueen’ – snap shooting at a randomly placed 4 second exposure target using a military style .223 rifle with a telescope sight at 300 yards.
With .22RF carbines at 50 yards.
Black Powder ML revolvers at 15 yards.
Finally, miniature ‘falling plates’ with .22RF carbines at 15 yards.

Engraved glass tankards were awarded (avoiding duplicate winners, thus a second place could win a tankard) for each competition and a silver trophy for the champions. It was a relief to the writer that the Gunmakers’ won the overall team position, thus securing our name on the trophy in the first year. Our Chaplain David Cooper won the 900 yards competition and Liveryman Alan Cook won the ‘falling plates’ shooting for the Company of Art Scholars. The individual overall champion was Charlie Houston of the Clothworkers, with our Archivist Derek Stimpson coming overall second. Liveryman Richard Black came second in the falling plates.

I hope that this event becomes an annual one among the City Liveries.

The post Inter-Livery Rifle Shoot at Bisley appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Inter-Livery Clay Shoot 2014

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 10:58:00 GMT

This year’s Inter-Livery Clay Shoot, held as usual at Holland & Holland’s shooting grounds at Northwood, was again blessed with good weather. The Gunmakers fielded eight teams and once again upheld the Company’s tradition of winning prizes.

The only mishap of the day occurred when the Clerk was hit on the forehead by a fragment of clay!

The results were as follows:

The Alan Ritson Cup for top Livery Team was won by Gunmakers ‘C’ with a score of 325
The Gunmakers’ Prize for Top Livery Gun went again to Ross Straker of the Grocers’ Company with a score of 77
The John Howard Cup for top Individual Livery Side by Side went to our Liveryman Mark O’Dowd with a score of 75
Top Livery Team Side by Side was won by Clothworkers ‘A’ with a score of 284. Gunmakers ‘A’ – the ‘Hammer Gun Team’, comprised of Liverymen Nigel Brown, Jason Abbott, John Farmer, and Derek Stimpson (Captain), came second with a score of 280
The Livery Team Highest Flush Prize was won by Clothworkers ‘A’ with a score of 73. Gunmakers ‘D’ came second with a score of 72.

The overall ranking of the Gunmakers’ teams scores was

Overall 1st, ‘C’ with 325;
4th, ‘D’ with 308;
Equal 10th, ‘A’ with 280;
Equal 14th, ‘E’ with 276;
Equal 18th, ‘H’ with 269;
Equal 21st, ‘B’ with 263;
Equal 28th, ‘F’ with 255;
Equal 29th, ‘G’ with 254.

As usual the proceedings were rounded off with a splendid ‘hog roast’ lunch and prizegiving.

All in all, another successful event and £1,000 raised for the Company’s Charitable Fund.

Our thanks go to Chris Parr and other members of the Environmental Cleaners’ Company for organising the day!

Next year the shoot will be held on Wednesday 20th May 2015

The post Inter-Livery Clay Shoot 2014 appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Riflemen’s Day at Bisley

Mon, 12 May 2014 15:20:00 GMT

On the 15th April, 16 Liverymen and 13 guests gathered at Bisley for the sixth year of this now popular annual event. After meeting at the Army Target Shooting Club for Bacon Butties and a safety briefing, the five teams, four of six shooters, and one of five, led by their captains, sallied forth on a pleasant and dry Spring day.

There were five disciplines to be shot with some variation from last year. As usual we had a mixture of practiced shooters and others with less or no experience. The standard of shooting was again excellent as could be seen from the score sheet, with disciplines marked out of 50, so a maximum of 250.

Stalkers Test. As last year we shot the full test used by the British Sporting Rifle Club to simulate woodland deer stalking. It was shot at 100 metres with a .223 telescoped sporting rifle on a life size Roebuck target. Two shots prone, then off sticks – two sitting, two kneeling, two standing, and two off the bench unsupported. Toby Heelis won the medal with an impressive 50. Shooters were coached and assisted by John Kynoch and David Lamb of BSRC.

Gallery Rifle was shot at 25 metres using a Military style self loading .22RF Rifle. The shooting position was seated, with elbows on the table, and twenty five shots to count. As Melville was under “works” the competition was shot on Cheylesmore which is only 25 yards. Standard of shooting was high and very quickly it became evident that central “V” bulls were needed. Several 50s were scored but Nicholas Somers and Derek Stimpson both had 50s with the highest number of “V” bulls and took medals.

Black Powder Pistol. This was shot using modern replicas of .44 Remington New Model Army, solid frame revolvers, of American Civil War fame. Each shooter fired twelve shots at 25 metres, best ten to count. The medal went to David Cooper for a score of 48.

Target Rifle was shot at 900 yards, using a 7.62 single shot Target Rifle laid free on a rest and with a telescopic sight. Two sighting shots were fired and then five to count. The wind coaches are vital and the wind was brisk but variable, so they had to work hard to keep shooters central on the target, and no one scored 50. Mark Bridge took the medal with 48.

Running Boar – another Sporting Rifle discipline shot at 50 metres with a .22RF rifle with telescope. This is shot standing, at a boar target which moves across the shooter’s front in four seconds during which time a shot is fired, swinging through, with the requisite lead. Louis Holtzhausen took the medal with a 35. David Williams from BSRC assisted.

Alice Gran Stimpson was, once again, the only lady shooter.

The highest individual scorer on the day was David Cooper with a score of 226 out of 250 and Derek Stimpson followed him with 220. Richard Black was third with 210.

At the end of a day much enjoyed by everyone the party returned to the “Army” for “high tea” and the prizegiving.

Thanks to Stewart Urry and John Jackman for organizing the event.

The number of applications for the event each year seems to indicate its popularity, voiced by many participants, so we hope to see you all next year.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:20:00 GMT

On Shrove Tuesday, 4 ^th March, the liveries gathered to race their frying pans around Guildhall Yard. This annual event is organized by the Worshipful Company of Poulters, in conjunction with The Cook and The Butler and by kind permission of the Chief Commoner.

The Gunmakers team was Simon Grant-Rennick (running in the Master’s Race), Rob Pitcher (Livery Race), Clair Zambuni (Ladies Race), Johnathan Young (Novelty Race), supported by the Master, Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Beadle and Honorary Archivist. The Proof Master, as usual, provided the starting service with our 10-bore signal cannon.

The weather was kind and we were blessed with a beautiful day. Following the blessing by the Reverend Canon Paul Thomas, Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf CBE opened the proceedings by firing the cannon to start the first race – after a caution by the Proofmaster that the first shot would be rather louder than normal – as was the last. This year ear plugs were available

This year, as always, times were fast – we didn’t win any races but we came away with duty done and Gunmakers Honour intact!

In the Master’s Race Simon ran like lightning but first place was taken by the Clockmakers, who were of course keeping the race times down to milli-seconds.

In the Livery Race, despite Rob’s velocity, first place went to the Tylers & Bricklayers.

Claire ran nimbly in the Ladies race but first went to Chartered Surveyors.

The Novelty Race, with Jonathan speeding in his “Operation Raleigh” costume, was won by the Plaisterers , who also won the Victor Ludorum.

The Information Technologists won best costume.

As can be seen this event is becoming highly competitive in all respects, including food – the thin slightly crisp pancakes, with sugar and lemon, served before the races, were as usual, delicious. The thicker racing and tossing pancakes were of course bred for that purpose.

The Gunmakers group then retired to the Jugged Hare where an excellent game-themed lunch was enjoyed.

The post Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .

Inter-Livery Clay Shoot

Sat, 04 Jan 2014 22:45:00 GMT

This year the Gunmakers fielded eight teams for the annual Inter-Livery Clay Shoot and once again upheld our tradition of winning prizes.

This year’s shoot, held as usual at Holland & Holland’s shooting grounds at Northwood, was once again blessed with good weather. There seemed to be fewer complaints about the traffic, or was it that we all set out earlier drawn by the thought of bacon and sausage butties before shooting?

In any case the shooting got off to an early start. The cloud cover meant optimal clay shooting conditions and the demand for bottled water by thirsty shooters remained at normal levels.

Every year there are new teams and some drop out but numbers of individual shooters remain steady at around 400, with 100 teams in all. That is a lot of lead flying from some 40,000 plus shots fired on the day, and a need for regimental organization by Holland & Holland to keep things flowing smoothly!

The Alan Ritson Cup for top Livery Team was won by Gunmakers ‘B’ with a score of 324
The Gunmakers’ Prize for Top Livery Gun went to Ross Straker of the Grocers’ Company with a score of 77
The John Howard Cup for top Individual Livery Side by Side went to Liveryman Mark O’Dowd with a score of 70
Top Livery Team Side by Side was retained by Gunmakers ‘A’, the ‘Hammer Gun Team’, comprised of Nigel Brown, Jason Abbott, John Farmer, and Derek Stimpson with a score of 293
The Livery Team Highest Flush Prize was won by Gunmakers ‘B’ with a score of 74
The Horners’ Prize for a Master and Court Team went to the Farriers’ Company with a score of 294

The overall ranking of the Gunmakers’ teams scores was

Overall 1st, ‘B’ with 324;
5th, ‘E’ with 297;
7th, ‘A’ with 293 (top side by side);
Equal 14th, ‘C’ and ‘H’ with 273;
17th, ‘G’ with 269;
Equal 26th, ‘D’ with 255;
Equal 30th, ‘F’ with 243.

A splendid showing out of 100 teams. As usual the proceedings were rounded off with a splendid ‘hog roast’ lunch and prizegiving.

All in all, another successful event with substantial contributions to charities of choice. Thanks go to Chris Parr and the Environmental Cleaners for organizing it!

Next year, for your diaries, will be on Wednesday 21st May 2014

Army Cadets compete for Gunmakers’ Trophy

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:20:00 GMT

As a means of furthering our affiliation with No 2 Company, Army Cadet Force, the Master, Mr David Lentaigne, the Clerk, Mr John Allen, and our Military Liaison Officer, Brigadier Paul Cort, visited them at Moody Down Ranges, near Winchester, last month when the cadets competed for the Gunmakers’ Shooting Trophy. After applying liberal amounts of suncream (the weather gods were smiling!), overcoming the usual gremlins that beset the automatic marking system, and zeroing the rifles, the competition began. This was structured in three phases, aimed at testing the cadets’ skills as broadly as possible. Phase 1 consisted of a grouping shoot at 100m, with individual cadets aiming to achieve the smallest possible group. Phase 2 brought in the different fire practices, and saw the cadets firing deliberate, rapid and snap at 100, 200 and 300m, with individual and team scores being collated. By the end of the morning 22 Detachment, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, were neck and neck with 24 Detachment, The Rifles.

Over the lunch three of the senior cadets then gave a short presentation introducing the various cadet weapons systems. They also explained the progressive shooting training system used throughout the Army Cadet Force, starting with the lightweight low-recoil air rifle and moving onto the heavier and more powerful 5.56 and 7.62mm rifles, which helps to build confidence among the cadets and to improve their marksmanship skills.

The final phase was a ‘March and Shoot’, with cadets marching from the 200m point back to the 600m point, before doubling back to the firing point. They then faced 10 snap target exposures. With the final detail complete, the scorers retired to figure out the standings, while the cadets made a start on cleaning the rifles. At the final reckoning, the Gunmakers’ Trophy went to 22 Detachment, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, beating 24 Detachment, The Rifles, by the narrowest of margins and ending their three year winning streak. Incredibly, the individual Top Gun prize was a dead heat between Cadet Woods (24 Detachment) and Cadet Akyol (22 Detachment), who split the first prize of £50 between them.

After presenting the trophy, the Master said how impressed he was with the efforts and abilities of all the cadets who took part, and acknowledged the professionalism and commitment of the staff running the range.

The post Army Cadets compete for Gunmakers’ Trophy appeared first on Worshipful Company of Gunmakers .