Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

education. Being a man of what may be consideredold-fashioned ideals and beliefs, he bitterly regrettedthe way the sport of target shooting had been vilified,without redress, by Government and media. This wasprobably why he was even more determined tocontinue shooting with what was left to us. Bisleycertainly remained the highlight of his annual shootingcalendar, with the Anno Domini/Phoenix, Imperialand Trafalgar Meetings as the ultimate venues.From both a personal and club level, Peter will begreatly missed. Our condolences to his wife Betty,daughter Debbie and sons, Simon and Tim.PM EvansMargaret Horton-SmithMargaret Horton-Smith died peacefully in WestlakeHouse, Horsham, on 17 May, a few days before her87 th birthday. A Memorial Service was held at HolyTrinity Church, West End, Woking on 31 May. Thiswas well attended by representatives of the NRA (ofwhich she was a Life Member), of the L&MRA (ofwhich she was a Vice President) and by neighbours,family, other shooters and friends.Margaret’s passing breaks another of those links tothe immediate post war years. David Horton-Smithwent on eight overseas tours between 1954 and 1971 .Margaret and David both saw the importance of theseboth as emissaries of rifle shooting and of GreatBritain. Many of their overseas contacts remainedlifelong friends and became subsequent visitors bothto Bisley and to their home.Margaret and David were married in September 1941,at St Columbas (Church of Scotland) Church, PontStreet, London. This was the height of the blitz, andat the time David, Staff Captain 2 nd London InfantryDivision, was stationed on the South Coast oppositeMr Hitler’s hordes, with the threat of invasionimminent. Margaret joined the WAAF, where she roseto the rank of Sergeant. She would never speak of herwar work, having signed the Official Secrets Act andthe most her family could glean was that she was likelyinvolved in Military Intelligence, and probably withthe French theatre of operations.Towards the end of the war David and Margaretbought a plot of land at Sheets Heath, Brookwood(roughly 1000m behind Century range) where theybuilt a family home in the immediate post-war years.Carving his way to the end of the jungle that was thegarden, David found his next door neighbours to beTaffy and Ida Owen, Taffy was a former comrade inarms, and Ida became secretary to the then NRASecretarys, Captain Le Mesurier and CommodoreRiall. Also a little further away on Sheets Heath wereJean and Larry Orpen-Smellie.It is for her association with squadding, which she didwith Jean for many years, and her work on the FrontCounter during the Meeting that Margaret will bemost remembered by shooters. With help fromdaughter Catherine and with David and son Robertshooting the Meeting, you could say that the Horton -Smith name was very much in evidence both on theranges and behind the scenes. It was a strange quirkof fate that both she and Larry passed away on thesame night, which prompted the immediate comment“I wager they stopped for a quiet G&T, and toremember old times on their way to the Pearly Gates.”Margaret displayed much stoicism in her latter years.After David’s death in February 1982, she moved to asmaller house at West End, Woking (to the right ofthe Century danger area . . . still well within hearingof the crack and thump from Bisley). Towards theend, her mental acuity declined as a result of adegenerative condition, but through the good officesof her carers, friends and neighbours, she was able toremain in her own home for as long as possible, beforea fall incapacitated her. After her move to WestlakeHouse, Horsham she was tirelessly cared for by thestaff and also by her daughter Catherine, who livedclose by.Margaret leaves two children, Robert and Catherine,and five grandchildren, to whom she remains ashining example of quiet personal integrity.Robert Horton-SmithEric McGibbon wishes to thank all the many friends andacquaintances who so kindly conveyed their condolenceson the sad loss of his son, Malcolm.At a small private ceremony, Eric scattered Malcolm’s ashesat the same spot on Stickledown where his late wife Josie’sashes rest.He is very appreciative of the so many kindnesses extendedto him for which, once again, he expresses his many thanks.85