Tag: KAVS

Lord Lieutenant presents King’s Award at club prize-giving

by RichHin Club News

Rugeley Rifle Club was honoured to host the Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson KCVO CBE on Friday 28th March at our annual prizegiving. Accompanied by local councillors and Josh Newbury MP, Sir Ian visited to present the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, gazetted in November. Whilst visiting, he presented a number of awards and trophies and toured the club, viewing the ranges and learning about the club’s volunteering and charitable activities.

A £500 cheque was also presented to Rugeley and District Community First Responders, and £350 was presented to Staffordshire & Shropshire 4×4 Response – two of the club’s chosen charities. RADCFR maintain the defibrillator hosted on the outside of the club. This lifesaving piece of equipment was installed in 2019. Since then it has been activated six times, and used at least twice. SAS 4×4 Response provide charitable event support and transport for workers such as nurses during extreme weather.

The Lord Lieutenant was accompanied by Cllr Phil Hewitt (Chair, Staffordshire County Council), Cllr Steve Thornley (Chair, Cannock Chase District Council), Cllr David Williams, Josh Newbury MP and the Rt Hon Dame Amanda Milling.

Trophies

  • Short Range Champion – Richard Hemingway
  • 50metre Frostbite Champion (Winter) -Martyn Buttery
  • 50M/ISSF Champion – Ryan Williams
  • Dewar Champion – Richard Hemingway
  • 10M Air Pistol Champion – Paul Watkiss
  • 10M Air Rifle Champion – Zoe Perkin
  • Benchrest Champion – Paul Watkiss
  • Young Gun Trophy – Phoebe Haughton
  • Junior Short Range Trophy – Alex Buttery
  • Junior Long Range Trophy – Alex Buttery
  • Junior Air Rifle Trophy – Izzy Ward
  • Junior Air Pistol Trophy – Pippa Watterson

Awards

  • Best Potential (Junior) – Oliver Hill
  • Best Potential (Senior) – Carl Kimberley
  • Best Improver – Mick Chaganis
  • Secretary’s Award – Media Team (Becky Andrews, Martyn Buttery, Richard Hemingway & Carl Kimberley)

Captain’s Award Nominees

Ryan Cockbill (Winner)

  • Qualified for final, placed 5th in SH2 50Metre Prone at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris

Olivia Beech

Megan Bamsey

  • Represented GB at 2024 FISU World University Shooting Championship in New Delhi

Helen Robinson

  • Selected as reserve for the GB team in the Drew U-21 Match
A uniformed man speaks to a crowd of people.
A group of dignitaries stand on the firing point of an airgun range watching young people shoot air rifle and air pistol.
A smiling uniformed man speaks with people in a room.
The Lord Lieutenant meets members of the Committee.
A smiling uniformed man speaks with people in a room. In the background a banner reads "Rugeley Rifle Club".
The Lord Lieutenant meets members of the Committee.
A smiling man with a gold chain of office shakes hands with a young man in a suit. The suit pocket bears a wire badge reading "Staffordshire Smallbore Rifle Team"
County Council Chair Phil Hewitt with Alex Buttery.
A man aims a target rifle through a telescopic sight.
The Lord Lieutenant takes aim with a benchrested rifle on the 50metre range.
A uniformed man takes aim with a target rifle, instructed by a suited man to his right. The target is lit with artificial lights as it is dark outside.
The Lord Lieutenant takes aim with a benchrested rifle on the 50metre range.
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
The Lord Liutenant presents the King’s Award for Voluntary Service to Club Chairman Martyn Buttery
A group of suited dignitaries stand around a young man holding a cheque. A banner behind them reads "Rugeley Rifle Club"
Tommy Glover of SAS 4×4 Response stands with their cheque with dignitaries.
A group of people stand smiling holding a shield. They have been given an award for services to Rugeley Rifle Club.
The Media Team receive the Secretary’s Award
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
A uniformed man stands with a boy holding a target rifle. A banner behind them reads "Rugeley Rifle Club" and a table behind them bears trophies and prizes.
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two people stand smiling during a trophy presentation
Two men stand smiling as one presents a cheque to the other. One is dressed in a suit, the other in the blue uniform of the communoty first responders.
Lee Featherstone presents check to representative of Rugeley and District Community First Responders
A uniformed man speaks to a man and woman in an informal setting over drinks.
Three men stand smiling as one presents a cheque to the others. One is dressed in a suit, the others in the grey shirts of 4X4 response.
Lee Featherstone presents cheque to representatives of Staffordshire & Shropshire 4×4 Response

Letter from the Lord Lieutenant

by RichHin Club News

Thankyou to Ian Dudson CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire for his kind words on the announcement of the club’s receipt of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. We very much look forward to the formal presentation with the Lord Lieutenant in the New Year.

Royal Honours for Rugeley Rifle Club

by RichHin Club News

With great pleasure and excitement, the Committee can announce that Rugeley Rifle Club has been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Gazetted this morning, the King’s Award is the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK, equivalent to an MBE. Rugeley is the first shooting sports club to ever receive this award.

Volunteering is at our heart

This award is a testament to all our volunteers, including the property team, coaches and administrators; but in particular recognises the work the club has done outside it’s own membership and the positive impact it has had on the wider local community. Over the past 10 years the club has worked with the Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services and Vysions Youth Service of Brereton, providing summer camps for local young people in association with Burntwood Target Sprint. Participants have completed volunteer work at the club including a mural on the outside of the range, and in return learned to shoot Olympic Air Rifle and Air Pistol.

Defibrillator unveiled 2019
Vysions paint a mural at Rugeley
A group of four youth volunteers pose with air pistol targets on an indoor shooting range
Young volunteers enjoy learning air pistol

In 2019, the club fundraised for a Public Access Defibrillator, which saw the adoption of Rugeley and District Community First Responders (RADCFR) as a supported charity and the more recent installation of an emergency Bleed Control Kit. RADCFR themselves were honoured with the Queen’s Award in 2018.

British Schools Championship Finals

In 2022, the Club supported British Shooting in bringing the National Finals of the Schools Pistol and Rifle Championships to Cannock Leisure Centre, with Rugeley members volunteering as Range Officers and supporting match administration during the competition. British Shooting have returned to Cannock every year since. The Club has also supported the BS Target Sprint Series, the West Midlands leg being hosted at Burntwood Target Sprint.

A group of adults stand in hi-vis jackets at the British Shooting Schools Rifle & Pistol Championships. They are volunteers from a local shooting club helping to run the event.
Rugeley volunteers support British Shooting Schools Championship

Alongside these major events, the club has enjoyed hosting guest nights for diverse community groups, running an air rifle range at Brereton Carnival and serving as a venue for local groups including Viking re-enactors and 4×4 response.

Sporting Achievements

In competition, the club’s Air Rifle A-Team won Division 1 of the National League three consecutive years from 2018-2020, and again in 2022. Members have represented England, Wales and Great Britain, with recent sporting highlights including:

A medal for the Great Britain Shooting Team with two date bars inscribed for 2018 and 2014. Next to it is an embroidered blazer badge with the word's "Great Britain" and "Dewar".
A young woman aims an air rifle in competition.
A team of smiling junior athletes stand in a group with a Union Flag in front of them at the Nordic Championships.

Rugeley Rifle Club is just one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The work of these organisations reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.

Representatives from the club will receive the award crystal and certificate from Ian Dudson, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire later this year. In addition, two volunteers from Rugeley Rifle Club will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in summer 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Club Chairman Martyn Buttery said: “To be nominated for such a prestigious award as The Kings Award for Voluntary Service is an honour in itself but to actually win is such an incredible achievement. It goes to show what can be done and achieved with a positive attitude.“

Club President Olivia Lyons said: “I am was absolutely delighted to hear that Rugeley Rifle Club had been awarded a King’s Award, it is a real testament to the Club’s Committee and the  volunteers who work tirelessly to make it such a success. The Club is a real asset and hive of activity within our local community, supporting a number of local voluntary groups, hosting youth programs and nurturing the talent of the many Club members. The award is such a fantastic achievement, which will be shared and celebrated with our whole community.”

Press Release

Media Kit