Archived from March 7th
6th March 2019
JOHN YOUNG
Sadly, John passed away on Tuesday.
Although John has not attended HWSG for some years, he used to attend regularly and basically has the credit for the formation of the Coffin Dodgers.
Years ago, few people attended the club on a Wednesday. Those who did were there because ill health had prevented them from performing meaningful employment.
A small group of us started to shoot together and this soon became two groups. John christened us the Coffin Dodgers and the name has endured. Little did he think that the group would become so large and have its own badges and website!
John rarely missed a shoot, until his dog Max needed hydrotherapy treatment which could only be done on a Wednesday. Eventually, Max passed away and I remember having a conversation with him about another dog.
He felt he would be un-loyal to Max if he had another dog. However, John decided to do the deed and many of us will remember Ben who attended the Wednesday shoot. John always took Ben for a walk to do the ‘necessary’ before the shoot and the result then hung from John’s near-side wing mirror. I often wonder if any cyclists became curious of the bags contents!
One incident which John would never forget was on the occasion we had a respectable fall of snow and he couldn’t get his Transit off the car park. One of the guys offered to pull him to where the tarmac started. This was a traumatic experience for John and he described it as a ‘Nantucket Sleighride’.
John was a very keen shooter of rifles and handguns. Dave N makes this contribution:
John Young was the first person I came across when I joined the 49th Rifle & Pistol Club. I believe JY had been a member of the 49th for over
25 years and was a life member. He held various positions on the management committee. John arranged a lottery grant to commemorate 60 years after the war end to fund a number of activities including a club trip to Bisley in Surrey for long range target shooting. He was an ideal coach always calm and quietly spoken, on one occasion gently suggesting I refrained from doing something contrary to safety procedure when I was a probationer, he did not have to raise his voice to put across a point.
John's passion was hand guns and following the ban in 1997 took his guns to France. For the following years John made many trips to France for 2 or 3 months at a time to shoot his guns. Only ill health in recent years stopped the visits. John was also President of Cannock Rifle Club. Will be missed by many.
Our thought are with those closest to John.
KotR proposes that The Dodgers obtain a trophy or shield similar to what we have in place for Alan Painting. Comments on this would be very welcome.
Thanks John. Expect Alan to be waiting for you with his big smile and big handshake. Our squad reforming elsewhere, Eh?
6th March 2019
Butler’s: Dave S and Julian were equal high gun with 61/75. Trevor was handicap winner.
South Worcester. Dave was high gun with 77/100. Trevor won the handicap.
27th February 2019
Butler’s: Julian was high gun and handicap winner. Average score was 46.2
South Worcester. Len was high gun with 80/100. John won the handicap.
20th February 2019
Butler’s: Dave S was high gun and handicap winner with 62/75.
South Worcester. Dave S was high gun and handicap winner with 83/100.
13th February 2019
Butler’s: Dave S high gun with 61/75. Mike won the handicap.
South Worcester. Li was high gun with 68/100.