Members of Bideford Target Shooting Club were deeply saddened by the passing of Mog Thomson — a respected shooter, coach, organiser, and friend who gave an enormous amount to the sport and to the people within it.

Alongside her husband Pete, Mog played a central role in the creation and development of Melbury Ranges. What exists there today is due in no small part to their hard work, persistence, and commitment over many years. Their efforts created opportunities for countless shooters across North Devon and beyond.  

Mog’s achievements in shooting were exceptional. Representing Great Britain many times with her first GB shoot winning the 1979 Silver medal at the Nordic Championships in Sweden, she captained national teams like the GB Randle team, becoming the only woman invited twice to this role.  She coached shooters at all levels and tirelessly supported the sport both locally and nationally, this was recognised with awards for Sports Personality in both West Sussex and North Devon. But those who knew her through Bideford will remember her most for the time she gave to others — encouraging new shooters, sharing her experience, and helping people grow in confidence on the range.  

Together, Mog and Pete helped establish coaching and instruction programmes within the club that introduced many people to target shooting for the very first time. Her patience, knowledge, and straightforward encouragement left a lasting impression on generations of members.  

Shooting was a huge part of Mog’s life, and the contribution she made to the sport was remarkable. Her legacy can be seen not only in Melbury Ranges, but in the strength of the club and the many friendships and memories built around it.

Mogs talents laid not only in shooting but also painting and was an accomplished water colourist, not only painting many scenes around Bisley camp but a broad spectrum of subjects including landscapes, pets, boats, incredibly detailed line drawings of landmarks and a commissioned presentation to the American Team at Bisley at The Roberts Match. A selection are on display at Melbury ranges.

Mog will be remembered with great respect and affection, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Some people leave behind trophies. Others leave behind buildings, skills, and standards that continue to serve generations long after they are gone.

Mark Pomeroy was one of those people.

When Bideford Target Shooting Club set out to transform the former Melbury water treatment site into the ranges we know today, Mark accepted responsibility as the principal contractor for constructing the covered firing point building. It was a role that demanded far more than practical skill. It required leadership, patience, determination and an uncompromising commitment to doing things properly.

Working alongside countless volunteers, Mark became both teacher and craftsman. Many members arrived with little or no building experience, yet under his guidance they learned not simply how to complete a task, but how to complete it to a standard he was prepared to accept. If something was not right, it was done again. His philosophy was simple: excellence was never accidental.

The quality of his workmanship remains visible throughout the range today. Every carefully cut joint, every awkward angle and every detail reflects the pride he took in his craft. Visitors may admire the finished building, but those who worked alongside Mark understand just how much thought, precision and determination went into creating it. 

More importantly, Mark helped create something far greater than a building.

The Melbury ranges have become the permanent home of Bideford Target Shooting Club, allowing hundreds of people to discover and enjoy target shooting, welcoming families, beginners and experienced competitors alike, and providing facilities that have secured the Club’s future for generations to come. His contribution forms part of the very foundation on which the Club continues to grow. 

Those fortunate enough to have worked with Mark remember not only an exceptionally skilled craftsman, but a generous mentor who willingly shared his knowledge and expected the very best from everyone around him. His standards shaped the project, his influence shaped those who worked beside him, and his legacy remains in every shooting session held beneath the roof he helped create.

There can be no more fitting memorial than knowing that every member, every visitor and every newcomer who walks onto the firing point benefits from Marc’s dedication and craftsmanship.

Thank you, Mark.

Your work endures.

Your standards remain.

Your legacy lives on at Melbury.

Keith started shooting while working in London at the Lister Institute.  One of the researchers took him to Bisley to shoot full-bore regularly.  He went to St Andrews University and joined the Rifle Club there, becoming Match Secretary (equivalent to Bideford’s captain).  After leaving he joined Romford Rifle Club,  then  a brief move back to Scotland and Falkirk Lord Roberts Club, rejoining Romford on his return.

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After a move to Hartland in the late 70s he joined Hartland Rifle Club, but found the toll of farm work too much, so stopped shooting for several years, joining Bideford Rifle Club just before retiring from farming.

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Despite the difficulties of RA and poor health he became secretary after the loss of the Grenville College range.  He was very much involved in the search to find a new site for the club, and helped toward the purchase of the Melbury site.  He was unable to help much with the physical work involved in clearing the site and building the new range, but was able to contribute in other ways by providing equipment and hedging plants, also not claiming any expenses as secretary.  By the time the range was opened he was restricted to benchrest shooting, but did his best even though his hands were so badly deformed that he could barely operate the trigger.  He left the club in 2019 and gave up shooting.

Originally from Abergavenny, John joined Bideford in 1992 after moving down from Worcester. In his own words he was approaching 68 years old, and wanted to continue shooting "until such time as senile decay finally takes hold" He had been Captain and Chairman of his previous club, the Worcester West Unit Rifle Club, having been a member since about 1945. Although he had moved to Eggesford he decided to join Bideford over a club in Exeter because the club had been “mentioned in despatches” in the Rifleman and he preferred the journey.

John continued shooting prone until well into his eighties, and then took up bench rest which he only gave up at the age of 93 when the travelling became too much.   Still fiercely independent (and with no sign of "senile decay" !) for many years he assisted in the running of the club by organizing preparation for the teams for the Devon Winter League.   
He was invited to be a vice-president and more recently President in recognition of his many years of service and generosity to the club.

We will miss his company and his dry sense of humour, and remember him with great affection.

Simon Dafforn, our Club President, passed away on November 12th 2021.

In his long shooting career, he had been not only an active shooter of county standard, but also highly-qualified on the international stage as an ISSF Judge, Technical Officer and Referee, as well as Team Manager for many international matches.  His proudest moment was undoubtedly his involvement in the Olympic Games 2012, and he was deservedly recognized by the NSRA’s gold award for services to shooting.

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To our club, he had been Club Captain and Chairman before being elected President, and committed to every aspect of Club life – including the building of our new club facilities at Melbury.   We remember his support, his constant fund of shooting stories and his smile.

Everything he brought to the club and its members will remain with us, and help to shape our future.

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See you on the last detail, Simon.

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Keith shot bench rest at the club and was a skilled and proficient marksman. A true Devon lad with a broad Devonian accent. Always willing to attend work details and offer advice on matters concerning the countryside.

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The selected picture is of Keith working on hedge laying at Melbury. Under his guidance and instruction club members were able to lay the foundations for what has since become a flourishing hedgerow along the left hand side of the drive as you enter the site.

Thank you for all your help across the site Keith.

Rest in Peace. 

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Michael joined the club in 2007 and completed the instruction course in 2008. In the years that followed Michael became a prolific and very much valued and driven member of the club and the club's committee shooting both .22 prone and air pistol at club and county standard; he was also the club's air gun captain.
Michael also gained his County Coach qualification and achieved the I.S.S.F. pistol coaching qualification. 
Recognised in 2017 by the N.S.R.A. with their Diploma award for services to shooting after being instrumental in helping with the building of The Melbury Ranges amongst many other things.

Within the club Michael was indeed a unique character who had plans to progress not only our club but the sport. A quiet and mild mannered gentleman with a determination to finish whatever he started and to bring more people into our club and sport.

There is not a single part of Melbury and Bideford Target Shooting Club that has not benefited from Michael's hard work and forward thinking.

 

Dave joined Bideford Rifle Club in 1989 when he moved to Devon from Middlesex, and went straight into the club A team where he remained for several years, playing an important part in team wins – his proudest probably being in the club team which represented Devon in the Kynoch Shield competition and beat Cornwall for the trophy.
He had been a shooter for most of his life, and introduced both his son Steve and his grandson Ben to the sport. In 2008, he decided to transfer to the newly-popular discipline of bench rest shooting, and immediately started winning medals in this discipline as well.
 

An engineer by trade, in the printing industry, he spent countless hours preparing his equipment for competition and was always happy to help others in the same way.

Dave served on the Club’s committee for most of his shooting life in Bideford, bringing his own pertinent opinions to the discussion on many occasions. When the Club started to build new facilities at Melbury, he was one of the most regular participants in working parties despite his seniority – even if he only made the tea, he was there and part of the team. He even put aside his lifelong antipathy to the colour green, which he normally refused to wear, and bought a jumper in club colours!! He attended the National Meeting at Bisley nearly every year – firstly as a competitor and in later years just to be part of the shooting community – usually driving himself and his caravan there and staying for the whole week of shooting. And until last year, he was still taking part in competitions and delighted to be part of the Club and its future, and we shall miss his input and companionship.

This picture is of David with his grandson winning a trophy together.

​Thanks for all your help David.