ORA Historical Note 2.
A Short History of the formation of the Oxfordshire Rifle Association in its present form.
According to the badge of the Oxfordshire Rifle Association, it was founded in 1862 but there are no remaining documents relating to those early days. However, it is almost certain that fullbore shooting was thriving in the latter part of the 19th Century although it was mainly connected with active or retired servicemen, Volunteers and the County Territorial Force. The financial ledger of 1889- 1904, the only document we have of the early period , appears to be entirely devoted to recording subscriptions and donations from military personnel.. Competitive shooting was carried out at the Churn range near Blewbury.
Through the foresight of Lord Roberts, by 1907, interest in training civilians in the use of firearms as an aspect of national defence and security, had led to the widespread creation of ‘miniature rifle’ clubs throughout the UK. The Oxford County Council , in their wisdom, persuaded several local worthies to coordinate the City and County clubs into one Oxfordshire Miniature Rifle Association which would be affiliated the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs (now the National Small Bore Rifle Association)
(For a more detailed description of the very initial actions which took place at this point, look at ORA Historical Note 1)
From the first proposals in March 1907, the Association development moved at a great pace. A public meeting held on the 6th of January 1908, which the Mayor of Oxford chaired, discussed all aspects of the activities of the association including the its essential part in ‘national security’ and “teaching young men to play the game” The Lord Lieutenant of the county, the Earl of Jersey, became President and we are all pleased that this position has continued to this day. The secretary was Captain Melville Lee, an energetic supporter of miniature shooting, who spent much time in promotion and touring clubs giving lectures. The Meeting was given coverage in almost a full page in the Oxford Times. Throughout these years the local press gave extensive coverage of all results and developments in the Association.
By early June 1908, a ‘Central Range’ was built at Osney Lane in Oxford. By July, the range was almost fully used all week (except Sunday) from 11am to 10pm, including being open to the public when such interesting clubs as “The College Servants Society”, the “Lion Brewery”, the GPO, St Barnabas Institute and St Edwards School were not using it. An outdoor range belonging to Cherwell Club was opened at Mr Webb’s clay pits and brickyard on the Woodstock Road in May 1909. The setting was described as ‘picturesque’ in the local paper. The Clubs affiliated to The OMRA at the time are too numerous to name but some idea of the scale of shooting in the City and County can be gained from how many clubs (not teams!) entered in the County League competition. The League was divided into Northern, Western and Eastern Divisions. In each division there were 4 or 5 Groups, each containing 3 or 4 clubs, except for the Eastern Division which contained what were mostly City Clubs. This had some 24 clubs, making a total of about 70 clubs in all.
Most of the information about this period comes from the comprehensive coverage in the local press. And the press could be just as influential as it is today. An interesting editorial in September 1908 says: “The East Oxford Liberals, the Museum Assistants, the Gasworks and possibly the Waterworks Department of the Corporation are about to form clubs for the encouragement of miniature rifle shooting. Surely the Oxford Conservatives will not allow their rivals this lead in local recognition on this patriotic movement!” Within a few months the “Central Conservatives” was formed!
The OMRA continued to flourish over the next few years, but as could be expected, it folded when WW1 broke out as most of its members were called to the Front. Although both the Service Rifle and Miniature Rifle Clubs re-emerged after the War and various countywide competitions were organised by them, it was not until October 1924 that the first pressure to re-establish a County Association again was brought to bare by the then Lord Lieutenant, the Duke of Marlborough. Surprisingly, not a single old ‘City’ club had survived except the Territorials, the University, Morris Motors and the Police.
Progress was slow, the most significant development not occurring until the 24th November 1928 and then 12th February 1929. Those two dates were the first meetings of a joint committee of the Oxford Miniature Rife Association (smallbore). and the Oxfordshire Rifle Association (service rifle) represented by the County of Oxford Territorial Force Association. They set the rules and regulations for a single Association to cover all shooting in Oxfordshire. The first General Meeting took place on the 6th April 1929. The simpler title of Oxfordshire Rifle Association was adopted and the Lord Lieutenant accepted the Presidency. The two rifle disciplines became ‘sections’ under the ORA Executive, as the they are to this day.
And the rest, as the say, is history (for another day)
John Farren 13/11/2007