MY SPORTING LIFE, OR SOME OF IT by Frank Spittle
(NOT IN DATE ORDER)
1932 WOLVES FIRST MASCOT, MOLINEUX GROUND (MAJOR BUCKLEY) (LARGE PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY MOLINEUX MUSEUM)
MEMBER OF ST PETER’S SCHOOL BOXING CLUB AGED 13 AND 14.
1942 FOUNDER MEMBER OF WOLVERHAMPTON RACING CYCLING CLUB (STARTED BY PERCY STALLARD)
1942 WARTIME HOLIDAYS AT HOME,, BOXED ON MOLINEUX GROUNDS. MY OPPONENT JOHN WARREN. WON TROPHY. (JIMMY WILDE GLOVES PURCHASED BY MY FATHER, NOW DONATED TO WOLVES MUSEUM AND ON DISPLAY BY SIR JACK HAYWARD SUITE,. OCTOBER 2007).
WON ARMY `INTAKE’ RIFLE-SHOOTING COMPETITION, BORDER REGIMENT CARLISLE, MY PRIZE, TWO HALF CROWN SAVING STAMPS.
1943 WON RASC INTAKE ARMY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP, HADRIANS CAMP CARLISLE. WON TROPHY.
DISCHARGED FROM ARMY 1946, AWARDED `THE KINGS SILVER WAR BADGE’. FOR DISABILITY.
1950 FORMED TEAM AND PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR `CROWN CRISPS’.( TAUGHT WALKER’S BUTCHERS OF LEICESTER.) HOW TO MAKE CRISPS. NOW ACKNOWLEDGED BY WALKERS AS THEIR FOUNDER AND INVITED TO THE FACTORY AT LEICESTER..
JOINED 8TH BATTALION HOME GUARD RIFLE CLUB SHOOTING FULL-BORE AND SMALL-BORE. WENT TO BISLEY, ALTCAR, WITH CAPTAIN CLIFF EVERALL LT COMMANDER JOHN WILCOX. AND MAJOR HEYOE (RACHEL’S DAD). WOLVERHAMPTON 303 FULL BORE CLUB 1950s.
MEMBER WINNING HOME GUARD TEAM, BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FOR STAFFORDSHIRE 8TH BATTALION HG.
BRITISH NATIONAL AWARD, HOME GUARD RECORD SCORE OF 1399 X 1400 WITH MATCH RIFLE. . PRESENTATION AT BRIDGNORTH BY COL CLIFFORD COMMANDING OFFICER 8TH BATTALION HG.
WON STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP FROM OLYMPIC SHOOTER BILL GODWIN (KYNOCH).
MEMBER OF THE 22/44 HG RIFLE CLUB LANESFIELD.
FOUNDER OF THE JAMES GIBBONS RIFLE CLUB AND RANGE, BIRMINGHAM NEW ROAD, OPENED BY THE MAYOR OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCILLOR HARRY BAGLEY
ACHIEVED `WORLDMASTER STATUS’ ( GOLD AWARD) 1957..NATIONAL SMALLBORE RIFLE ASSOCIATION. ONLY WOLVERHAMPTON MAN EVER TO WIN THIS SINCE 1906. SCORE 398 X 400.
FOUNDER OF BRITAINS FIRST MUNICIPAL AIR RIFLE RANGE AT BILSTON BATHS, OPENED BY THE MAYOR OF WOLVERHAMPTON.
SHOT FOR ENGLAND AT AYR IN SCOTLAND AFTER GRAND AGGREGATE. 1965
WINNER `NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE CUP’ ABERDEEN.
WON NATIONAL BRITISH LEGION TROPHY TWICE AT BISLEY
WINNER OF THE PARKER HALE TROPHY AT SCOTTISH HOME COUNTRIES EVENT (INVERNESS).
BLACK COUNTRY CHAMPION AT KYNOCH RANGE BIRMINGHAM.
QUEEN ALEXANDER CUP BISLEY (TWICE), BLUE RIBBON OF RIFLE SHOOTING. (IN OVER 100 YEARS OF COMPETITIVE RIFLE SHOOTING, NO WOLVERHAMPTON MAN HAS EVER WON THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD). 1964/1971. ONLY ONE OTHER STAFFORDSHIRE MAN TO WIN TWO, OLYMPIAN BILL GODWIN (KYNOCH).
MANAGER OF BRITISH TEAM, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS LINZ AUSTRIA. 1979.
NATIONAL RIFLE COACH MUNICH GERMANY FOR THE NSRA.
MANAGER AND COACH NATIONAL AND BRITISH RIFLE AND ARMBRUST TEAMS OVER SEVERAL YEARS IN SWITZERLAND, GERMANY AUSTRIA HOLLAND BELGIUM.
APPOINTED INTERNATIONAL SHOOTING JUROR BY IAU. (INTERNATIONAL ARMBRUST UNION) SWITZERLAND.
FOUNDER PRESIDENT NATIONAL AIR RIFLE & PISTOL ASSOCIATION
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF BRITISH MATCH CROSSBOW ASSOCIATION WITH MR GODREY DEINER SWITZERLAND.
CHAIRMAN OF WOLVERHAMPTON SMALL BORE RIFLE ASSOCIATION). AN OLYMPIC VENUE FOR THE BIRMINGHAM BID, NOMINATED BY VISITING RUSSIAN DELEGATION TO THE RANGE.(VLADIMAR RAZENOF) PERSONAL FRIEND AND RUSSIAN NATIONAL SHOOTING COACH.
FOUNDER OF `SHOOTING FOR THE DISABLED’ WITH SIR LUDWIG GUTTMAN AT STOKE MANDERVILLE.
RIFLE SHOOTING REPRESENTATIVE CENTRAL COUNCIL PHYSICAL RECREATION. `CCPR’. LONDON AND BOURNEMOUTH., CHAIRMAN, DUKE OF EDINBROUGH
FOUNDER AND LIFE MEMBER OF WOLVERHAMPTON SPORTS ADVISORY COUNCIL
LIFE MEMBER OF NATIONAL SMALLBORE RIFLE ASSOCIATION
MEMBER OF BISLEY NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION
MEMBER OF THE GUN TRADES ASSOCIATION.
PIONEERED TELEVISED RIFLE SHOOTING FOR BILLY WRIGHT `ATV SPORT.’. (LETTER ON DISPLAY BILLY WRIGHT CABINET MOLINEUX GROUND)
AWARDED CERTIFICATE BY NATIONAL BOYS CLUBS ASSOCIATION
AWARDED TOP AWARD BANNER BY NATIONAL AIR RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION.
`AWARD OF MERIT’ CERTIFICATE BY WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL.
FORMED AND RAN COACHES COURSES FOR `SPORT FOR ALL’ AT PARK VILLAGE AND MORETON SCHOOLS. ALSO FOR BLACK COUNTRY PUPILS AT DUDLEY. (COACHING CERTIFICATES PRESENTED BY DEREK ANDERSON ACTION SPORT.
FOUNDER OF THE BRITISH BENCH REST ASSOCIATION, (TELESCOPIC SIGHTS) WITH FACILITIES OPENED BY THE MAYOR OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCILLOR JOYCE HILL, AT ALDERSLEY STADIUM.
INSTRUMENTAL IN OBTAINING £ 240,000 FOR REFURBISHING OF THE ALDERSLEY RIFLE RANGE, FROM LOTTERY FUNDING IN A MULTI MILLION POUND PACKAGE FOR STADIUM DEVELOPMENTS.
AWARDED LARGE PRESENTATION CANNON BY WOLVERHAMPTON AND DISTRICT RIFLE CLUBS 1974. (NOW ON SHOW MOLINEUX GROUND)
AWARDED SPECIAL BRONZE DISC, MADE AND PRESENTED BY GOODYEAR RIFLE CLUB. “THE FIRST SHOT” FIRED AT 100 YARDS, A CARTON BULL’S EYE. ALDERSLEY OUTDOOR RIFLE RANGE 19TH MAY 1974.
FINANCIAL SUPPORTER OF THE WEDNESFIELD HIGH SCHOOL BB SHOOTING TEAM TO AMERICA.
PROPOSED AND PASSED BY WOLVERHAMPTON RIFLE COMMITTEE THAT THEIR RANGE AT ALDERSLEY, BY CALLED `FRANK SPITTLE RIFLE RANGE.’. NOV 10TH 1994..
WRITING THE HISTORY OF WOLVERHAMPTON RIFLE CLUBS AND SHOOTING TEAMS FOR THE WOLVERHAMPTON HERITAGE SOCIETY WEB SITE FOR JOHN SHARMAN.
AWARDED SILVER FIGURE FOR SERVICES TO LOCAL AND NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORT BY WOLVERHAMPTON UNITED SERVICES CLUB. (ON DISPLAY WOLVES MUSEUM)
WRITING AND PRODUCING A BOOK ABOUT `PUB SHOOTING’ IN THE BLACK COUNTRY, ENTITLED `RING MY BELL’. 1995
FOUNDER OF WOLVERHAMPTON `BELL TARGET’ ASSOCIATION. (AIR RIFLE).
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION HISTORIC ARMS AWARD FOR “CLASSIC BELL TARGET” BISLEY 1996.
FAMILY
SETTING A NATIONAL RECORD FOR CLOSE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN BRITISH RIFLE SHOOTING, `FOUR,’ AT GREAT BRITAIN LEVEL, AS OFFICIALS AND SHOOTERS ENTITLED TO
WEAR A GREAT BRITAIN BLAZER BADGE.
MY WIFE BRENDA, GREAT BRITAIN ENGLAND AND STAFFORDSHIRE
SON JOHN (DECEASED), STAFFORDSHIRE GREAT BRITAIN AND EUROPEAN SILVER MEDALIST. WOLVERHAMPTON `HALL OF FAME’.
SON ANTONY, NATIONAL JUNIOR AIR RIFLE CHAMPION. GREAT BRITAIN TEAM CAPTAIN, RIFLE AND MATCH CROSSBOW AT SENIOR LEVEL.
MYSELF, STAFFORDSHIRE. ENGLAND GREAT BRITAIN.
DAUGHTER BRENDA (CANADA) WOLVERHAMPTON AND STAFFORDSHIRE.
DAUGHTER IN LAW, PAT (DECEASED) BISLEY EXPERT SHOT.
ESTABLISHED AND PIONEERED THREE PASSIONAL RIFLE SHOOTING `SHOOTING AT JAMES GIBBONS RIFLE CLUB. WOLVERHAMPTON.
SOME OF MY COACHING TO TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS, BEARING IN MIND THAT IT IS THE COMPETITORS WHO DO THE WINNING, NOT ME.
BRITISH LADIES TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS, JAMES GIBBONS LADIES RIFLE SHOOTERS, WON THE Dr EDITH SUMMERSKILL MP (,NATIONAL TROPHY.)
NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AT BISLEY. WOLVERHAMPTON WON IT TWICE. (TEAMS OF FIVE)
NATIONAL MATCH CROSSBOW CHAMPION WOLVERHAMPTON.
BRITISH THREE POSITION (STANDING KNEELING AND PRONE) CHAMPION, MALCOLM THICKBROOM (NOW SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPION).
NATIONAL JUNIOR AIR RIFLE CHAMPION, ANTONY SPITTLE
WORLD IAU CHAMPIONSHIPS HOLLAND, SILVER MEDAL
WORLD IAU CHAMPIONSHIPS BRITAIN, SILVER MEDAL, `OLYMPIAN’ SARAH COOPER.
EUROPEAN SILVER MEDAL OLYMPIAN IRENE DAW.
NATIONAL AIR RIFLE TEAM RECORD SCORE, DON GREEN MALCOLM THICKBROOM AND ANTONY SPITTLE… (MAYORS PARLOUR RECEPTION)
NATIONAL POLICE CHAMPIONS AT BISLEY
DETECTIVE ERIC WILLIAMS
DETECTIVE SGT M REGAN
POLICE SGT GEOFF PARTRIDGE.
JAMES GIBBONS NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
FIRST NATIONAL ‘THREE POSITION CHAMPIONS’.
NATIONAL 3 POSITION CHAMPION, MALCOLM THICKBROOM.
WOLVERHAMPTON ARMY CADET FORCE TEAM RUNNERS UP FOR `PUNCH TROPHY’ AGAINST NAVY AND AIR FORCE NATIONAL TEAMS FINAL HELD AT UXBRIDGE. PRESENTATION AWARD AT WOLSEY HOUSE TA BARRACKS. `SILVER TRAY’ BY OFFICERS OF STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT
FOUNDER OF THE AIR RIFLE SPORT OF `FIELD TARGET’, NOW A NATIONAL PASTIME. USING TELESCOPIC SIGHTS.
ORGANISER FOR WORLD AIR LINES SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP AT ALDERSLEY OUTDOOR RANGE. AIR FRANCE BRITISH AIRWAYS LUFTANZER ETC.
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SET OF NATIONAL FLAG POLES AT THE STADIUM TRACK AND ATTACKED IN THE PRESS BY OPPOSITION COUNCILLORS FOR DOING SO.
AWARDED THE ONLY SPECIAL MEDAL BY THE ISRAELI SHOOTING ASSOCIATION, FOLLOWING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT ALDERSLEY, WHICH DREW TWENTY TWO TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, WITH CHINA ATTENDING FOR THE FIRST TINE
AMONGST THE 400 COMPETITORS AND OFFICIALS. CIVIC HALL WOLVERHAMPTON PRESENTATION.
CREATING A MUSEUM OF MARKSMANSHIP IN WOLVERHAMPTON WITH A COLLECTION OF ARTEFACTS, SILVER GLASS POTTERY EQUIPMENT ETC ETC, COVERING THE WORKING MANS ROLE IN RIFLE SHOOTING SPORT SINCE 1860. NOW IN STORE AWAITING HOME IN WOLVERHAMPTON AS A UNIQUE SPORT AND TOURIST ATTRACTION …. NOW IN STORE.
GUEST OF HONOUR AND SPEAKER AT ST JOHNS COLLEGE OXFORD. DINNER FOR OXFORD BLUES, WITH MY WIFE BRENDA..” MY GREATEST HONOUR.” OVERNIGHT STAY IN COLLEGE OF ACADEMICS BY SOMEONE WHO LEFT SCHOOL AT 14. UNBELIEVABLE, UNFORGETTABLE.
January 14th, 2010 at 5:17 am
The 44 Rifle & Pistol Cub of Lanesfield are proud
of the acheivements of Frank Spittal and his family and wish to thank him for his dedication and committment to the sport of shooting.
As one of the founder members of our club, we
wish to extend our grateful thanks to Frank and
as a token of our gratitude, wish to confer on Frank the honour of Life Membership of the 44 Rifle & Piston Club in recognition of all the all the
hard and dedicated work to the benefit of our
sport in Wolverhampton & West Midlands.
Mark R Cooper.
Chairman 44 Rifle & Pistol Club.
Lanesfield.
Wolverhampton.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:23 am
Just to let you know that the 22/44 Pistol & Rifle Club, established in 1944, is still going strong, providing facilities to shoot small bore rifle and pistol for community groups and individual members. We provide tuition and expert assistance with competitive shooting air guns and FAC small bore shooting, under the auspicies of Rex Auden, John Moore and Range Wardens. For further details of times and facilities
please contact Rex Auden on 01902 658007 or
01902 885497.
The club are pleased to report their recent success being awarded an ABCD Community Chest Grant for equipment and new facilities at the shooting range. This will allow us to make the necessary improvements required to bring
our facilities up to the very latest standards. We would very much like to that all at ABCD for this
important funding, which will be the beginning
of the 2010 mprovements.
Chairman.
22/44 Rifle & Pistol Club.
Lanesfield.
Wolverhampton.
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Hello,
As Chairman of the 44 Club Rifle & Pistol Section, I was pleased to read Frank’s life history, a man
dedicated to the sport of shooting.
I understand Frank was one of the founder members of the 44 Club, Lanesfield since the opening in 1945. An astonishing record. I and all
the members want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for all the work done by Frank and his family for the sport here in the Midlands.
Well done Frank.
Mark R Cooper.
44 Club R & P Section