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Old 18-06-2014, 04:39 PM
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Default Amble Rifle Club Range

AMBLE CIVILIAN RIFLE CLUB.
Last Saturday saw the inauguration of the Amble Civilian Rifle Club. It will be remembered that some few months ago a public meeting was held at which it was decided to form a club, and a set of officers and committee were appointed to make the necessary arrangements for its formation. This was done, and among other things, it was also decided to apply for a grant from the Astor Fund, which consisted of a sum of money and rifles to assist the club to commence operations. This was duly promised and accepted, but several months elapsed before the club were able to obtain their rifles from the Government authorities who issued them. However, as soon as they were received, preparations were made to open the club. There was a fair muster of members at the club's range on the Links last Saturday afternoon, and the proceedings were characterised by evident enthusiasm. The person chosen to perform the opening ceremony was Miss Carse, who, promptly at 2 o'clock, fired the first shot, the bullet finding its way to the bull's-eye of the target, 200 yards away. With this, she declared the range duly open amid the plaudits of those present.

Councillor .J. T. Case, in the course of his remarks, said it had given him much pleasure to be present at the opening ceremony of the Amble Civilian Rifle Club, and hoped that there was a good future in store for it, and he was sensible of the honour they had conferred upon his daughter in asking her to perform the opening ceremony.

Referring to the late war in South Africa, he said he did not believe the reports that were circulated at the time about the bad marksmanship of the British soldiers, but he believed that they would hold their own, as they had done in the Peninsular War, Waterloo, and other famous battles, both by land and sea. He was sorry when they heard that the old Volunteer Corps had been disbanded, but was glad that that Civilian Club had sprung up to practically take its place. Mr. Carse, continuing, said that Governments, whether Liberal or Conservative, had never given sufficient encouragement to the Volunteer movement in the country. In his opinion, this was a great mistake, for, he understood that a number of smaller corps had been disbanded owing to lack of funds. In conclusion, Mr. Carse wished the club every success, and hoped that amongst their members there would be Bisley winners in embryo. (Loud applause.)

Al the conclusion of his speech Mr. Carse, who is the patron of the club, together with the Rev. C. E. Baldwin (vice-president), indulged in some shooting at the target, and these gentlemen proved themselves to be no mean shots.

A competition afterwards followed at 200 and 500 yards' range. It may be stated that the range, which is one of the best in the county, once belonged to No. 5 Company of the 2nd Northumberland Percy Artillery Volunteers, and it was through the kindness of Col. Mangin, who was Colonel of the Corps, that the range was handed over to the Amble Civilian Rifle Club. The club, in a very important way, fills the vacant places amongst riflemen made by the disbandoning of this famous corps. It has, so far, been very successful, and will, in all likelihood, become more successful in the future. It is the intention of the club to commence, in the immediate future, a Morris Tube Range in connection with the club, which will do duty for the members in the winter months.
[Morpeth H. 31st Oct 1903]


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