AMAZING HISTORY OF THE GUN RANGE ON THE RIVER THAMES
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LALEHAM CAMERA CLUB AND THE HAM & PETERSHAM PISTOL & RIFLE CLUB
Just one hundred metres from the end of the cul- de-sac leading to the River Thames and across the narrow and bumpy lane from the entrance to the historic tourist attraction Ham House – a recent venue for the BBC’s Antiques Road Show – is a largely unknown and special club, dating back over 100 years.
It is called the Ham and Petersham Rifle and Pistol Club, set in eight acres of protected grounds with a total of ten shooting ranges where many of the country’s elite crackshots enjoy their chosen sport and hobby – guns.
Amazingly, a plaque on the wall of the club explains the scale of the club’s historic importance: “On these ranges over 24.000 allied troops had their first introduction to rifle shooting.”
The tribute is a specific reference to the club’s vital contribution to the First World War (the club was set up in 1906) and ever since the police and the military and those involved in VIP close protection have maintained and honed their skills at the discrete riverside club.
The muffled burst of sporadic gunfire can be heard but the club operators are very conscious of their responsibility to the local neighbourhood and nearby residents which allows the club – the biggest private gun club in the country – to attract enthusiasts from all over.
Over 400 members ranging in age from 11 until early their early 80’s attend the club at least once a week to maintain their competence levels amid the tightest security involving external and internal CCTV and a sophisticated alarm system.
Most members have their own firearms and distribution of ammunition is tightly controlled and monitored.
Club captain Morne Van Dalen, who is also GB captain for the gallery rifle discipline told Teddington Town: “We work very closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that all our checking and vetting processes are very thorough.”
The recent Paris Olympic success in Team GB’s shooting medals winning one Gold and one Silver has led to a surge of interest in joining the Club.
Vice captain Julia Hilger-Ellis, who first picked up a gun when she was 6 years old because her German father loved to hunt, said: “We are a sporting club where people can enjoy shooting in the same way as people enjoy other hobbies.
“There are many different disciplines to suit different interest, we have eight outdoor ranges and two indoor ranges with moving targets, turning targets and advancing targets. Our members may just wish to shoot as a hobby once a week while others want to be coached and advance their skills to competition level.”
Julia’s 22 year old son has inherited his mother’s enthusiasm and is already the British champion in practical shotgun. He is expected to compete in the Practical Shotgun European Championship in 2025 in Hungary.
Sitting at the end of a narrow lane Ham and Petersham Rifle and Pistol Club (HPRPC) is London’s largest shooting club and the best equipped one in England – and has an excellent reputation for competing in and hosting national and international competitions.
During the First World War, the private club opened its ranges to allow men headed to the front to practise their shooting – more than 24k trained there.
The Surrey Comet praised the club for its ‘invaluable work during the war’.
It did so again in the Second World War and, to this day, still has links with the Ministry of Defence, government and military police, enabling them to use it for training as well as youngsters signed up to the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, actors who want to add their shooting skills to their CV and stuntmen and women.
The club opened in 1906, founded by Charles Hanbury-Tracy, the 4th Lord Sudeley and supported by the Earl of Dysart now owns the freehold of the valuable land.
Lord Sudeley gifted the land to members on the condition that it was used for the furthering of sport, particularly shooting which means that this amazingly large area cannot be built on.
For more information go to https://www.hprpc.co.uk/
