Secretaries Page
Headley Park Christmas update 2020Dear members,
I trust this finds you safe and well at the end of what has been a very strange year. The range is now open again for booking via Eventbrite following our second lockdown.
Traditionally this time of year would see us having our AGM. However, I have taken the decision to postpone this until 2021 as we have a vaccine on the horizon now and the reasonable assumption that we will be allowed to meet up in our normal way as the new year progresses. We have also deferred our conversion to not for profit limited company.
However on the other hand our Maintenance Officer Tim Gardener has been able to take advantage of the time that the ranges have been shut. He and the band of members who help him have transformed our facilities. The latest to be overhauled is the 100yd range. It now has a new back wall and movable and detachable front screens that should see us stay leaf free in the future. The 25m and 50m ranges have had extensive work carried out on their stopbutts involving many hundreds of tons of material which we hope, subject to a range inspection will allow for greater flexibility in the use of both ranges and a reduction in our sound output. We have also installed a container store on the right hand side of the 100yds and this will be used as a secure maintenance equipment store. A cleaner has been found and so we have reinstated the Portaloo now that we have a Covid appropriate cleaning regimen in place. We are looking at applying for a grant to cover further improvements from Sport England (Armory and permanent flushing loos) but in order to do this the club needs some quotations for the proposed building works so if there are any builders reading this or if you know of a local firm who could furnish us with quotations please get in touch with Martin Odell or myself.
I think next year will see us obliged to continue with Eventbrite until such time as guidance eases and I think we are looking at Spring time as the earliest opportunity that this can happen. All of the ranges are now available to book via Eventbrite but there can be no more than 6 people maximum shooting on each range at any given time. We have also been trialling a .22 version of the NRA’s very popular Civilian Service Rifle shoot. Peter Martin will take this discipline under his wing as it dovetails into his existing brief covering Mini Rifle. All disciplines are now being shot again albeit in a Covid secure maximum group of 6 people.
The club renewal paperwork will be sent out shortly and we would appreciate its prompt return. Please ensure that you let us know if you hold an NRA membership as we account to the NRA with capitation fees each year and if you are a member this saves the club money. If we don’t know your NRA membership status this can cost the club money.
Can I also request that you let us have an up to date email address that is clearly written so that you do not miss out on email updates going through the year. As always the renewal form will also be put onto the club website for you to download and print off if necessary. Please do not delay doing your renewal as I am obliged to inform the Police of all members who do not renew and once I have done this any person on that list wanting to renew will have to start all over again as a probationer.
2021 will also see a members only area being created on the website and this will become a significant source of up to date information for members going forward. Subscriptions for 2021 will increase to £120 due to the RPI automatic increase that is in place. The committee looked at reducing them but in light of the substantial improvements on the ranges and the need to build up enough funds to be able to eventually complete our purchase of the ranges it was felt that no reduction should be made.
At this time of year the last Eventbrite slots of the day will barely offer enough daylight to shoot but I do not intend to alter the system at this time so please just be aware of the limited use of the final session offered on the Eventbrite system.
Happy Christmas and New Year to you all
Rod
Hon. Secretary Headley Park Rifle and Pistol Club
Contact the club secretary by email
