2000 MILLENNIUM IMPERIAL MEETING

The 2000 Imperial meeting began a day earlier to fit in the extra matches arranged for this special year. Bisley camp was full to overflowing with visitors from all over the world in large numbers. Very many were unable to be accommodated within the camp and stayed as far away as Guildford in the University campus. B&B's and hotels in the area were all full too. 

The first millennium ceremonial came on the middle Saturday evening with the Beating of Retreat by the Band of the Parachute Regiment. Beginning at 9.30pm, with dusk falling, it was particularly atmospheric. The large crowd that gathered to see it added to the whole ambience, with the scarlet uniforms and gleaming instruments of the band not to mention the music it was a very moving performance. Bordering the lawn were several white flagpoles flying the flags of each Nation represented at Bisley this year. At the playing of the Last Post each flag was slowly lowered -  wonderful! 

The shooting throughout the week was good, aided by very good weather, after the first couple of days which were slightly damp, breezy and overcast. Tony Jones did well appearing in at least 12 prize lists followed to a lesser extent by Colin Brook, Jane Messer, Roger Mundy, Phil Rowell, Derek Painting, Ron Garside and Dick Roalf. All of them were in the top 50 of the prize lists whilst others like Rob Lygoe and myself came further down but nevertheless winning the treasured medal and bars. 

The second Thursday of the meeting was the designated NRA Millennium celebration day on which they held the Millennium matches, senior and junior, at short and long ranges. All countries that could raise a team of at least four entered and so we had teams from all the home countries, Germany, France, Holland, South Africa, Kenya, Guernsy, Jersey, USA, Canada and many others. At long range (900 & 1000 yds) it was quite exciting walking along watching the scores being put up on the score boards and naturally we were very proud when England won hands down. 

The social side of the celebrations began on Stickledown range at 7pm. with hundreds of people converging with their chairs and picnic tables, in one case a long table set with linen, candelabra and crystal glasses. It was great fun. There was a hog roast and lamb barbeque which was SO good. As we sat there watching everyone having fun and really enjoying themselves, the parachutists fell out of their aircraft, each carrying a flag of the nations represented there, and landed close to the picnickers. A large mobile concert platform had been erected so we enjoyed a wonderful concert given by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. They did SO well under difficult conditions. A warm evening, a lighted stage and mosquitoes - need I say more! As the evening came to an end we were treated to a fantastic firework display to which we were so close it was magic. So we came to the end of a really happy Bisley meeting but the icing on the cake was the winning of Her Majesty the Queen's Prize by a woman, a 20 year old student, for only the second time in the Imperial Meeting's history.

Veronica Garside