On Saturday, May 4th, 2024, the Temple of Uxbridge hosted its very first Charity Clay Shoot at the picturesque Tittershall Lodge, near Aylesbury. The event, orchestrated by the one and only W. Bro. Ricky Hartland, was a banging success—pun absolutely intended.
The sun decided to make a cameo appearance, turning the day into a postcard-perfect scene. As shooters, their families, and a few curious onlookers trickled in, the day began with a breakfast of champions: bacon rolls, tea, and coffee. Because nothing says “let’s go shoot some clays” like a belly full of bacon, right?
The shooters were then shuffled into groups like a well-organised deck of cards, ensuring that every novice had a seasoned pro by their side. Some participants had never even held a shotgun before, but hey, what’s a little friendly fire between friends?
The shooting ground, as lovely as a Jane Austen novel, saw our enthusiastic groups making their way to the numbered starting traps. The plan? Rotate between traps so nobody had to wait around twiddling their thumbs—or worse, their trigger fingers. Meanwhile, W. Bro. Ricky, ever the multitasker, gracefully sidestepped the competition to keep things running smoother than a well-oiled shotgun.
After all the bang-bang fun, it was time for lunch. And oh, what a lunch it was! Ricky’s wife, Karen, whipped up a spread so splendid that it could have turned heads at a royal banquet. There were salads, cooked meats, coleslaw, and freshly cooked new potatoes. Forget about shooting clays—people were now shooting for seconds!
The raffle that followed was the cherry on top, featuring an array of delightful prizes donated by generous souls.
Over 50 sharp-shooters took part, with a chorus of cheers from family and friends who came just to watch the action. When the dust settled, and the clays had all met their doom, the day ended with a grand total of over £1000 raised for the Temple of Uxbridge Masters Charity Column.
The Lodge gave a big round of applause to Ricky for pulling off this bullseye of an event, which we all hope will become an annual tradition. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend another glorious day in the sun, eating bacon, and blasting some clays for charity?
