Caption: The Worshipful Company of Carpenters celebrating their win with WW2 veteran Colin Bell (middle)
On 6 June 2025, the 11th annual Inter-Livery Target Rifle Shoot was held in support of the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund.
The event, organised by volunteers from the Worshipful Company of Bakers and the Royal Air Force Small Arms Association, took place at Bisley Camp Surrey, the home of British Rifle Shooting. The event saw 48 Livery members from 16 Livery companies take part in the competition, with over 100 people involved in the day.
Co-founded by past Master of The Worshipful Company of Bakers, Colin Sach, the event involved six disciplines including the 1,000-yard Target Rifle, 300-yard Sniper Rifle, Running Boar Moving Target, Black Power Pistol, .22 Rimfire Gallery Rifle against the clock, and Bell Target.
Prizes for individuals and teams are awarded for each discipline. This year, The Worshipful Company of Carpenters was the overall winning team and were awarded the Bakers Cup, donated by the Worshipful Company of Bakers. The Tim Bone Rose Bowl for highest individual score was won by David Stevens of the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.
For the 11th anniversary, the event was attended by Fund supporter and 104-year-old Second World War Mosquito pilot Colin Bell DFC AE BEM. Colin, who carried a Smith & Wesson revolver on his 50 operations over Germany, was talked through the Black Powder Pistol; and tried his luck on the Bell Target before handing out prizes to the day’s winners.
Colin Sach said:
“Bringing people together for the day at Bisley for a day of shooting, coupling it with raising funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund, has been wonderful. The sheer enthusiasm of everyone, whether they were an experienced competitor or complete novice, returning to the event and raising funds for a good cause was fantastic. We must remember that the military give their lives to preserve our way of life and freedoms – the RAF Benevolent Fund is an important charity to us as it ensures members the RAF Family can get support in their time of need.”
Hannah Bower, Philanthropy Manager at the Fund said:
“The RAF Benevolent Fund remain committed to standing firm beside our RAF Family members, especially with the ever-increasing demands on those defending our skies. This would not be possible without the longstanding support of organisations such as the RAF small Arms Association and the Worshipful Company of Bakers, for which we are eternally grateful. The money raised will help serving personnel, veterans and their families during their time of need, ensuring they never face life’s challenges alone.”
Over the past 11 years, the Inter-Liver Rifle Shoot event has raised over a huge £63,000 for the Fund, with this year totalling around £7,000.
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, mental health support, Airplay youth clubs, and more.
