Dorchester Rifle & Pistol Club
Sandringham Sports Centre, Fordington Fields, Dorchester
Dennis Hannam dies.
It is with great regret that the Club has learned Dennis died last Saturday, aged 96. He played a big part in raising the funding for the range and clubroom at Sandringham Sports Centre, where he scored the first ‘highest possible score’ of 100, and shot many disciplines competitively throughout his long life.
He was Club Secretary for many years and was always keen to pass on advice. He had a huge fund of stories, particularly about his time shooting in Singapore! He will be greatly, and sadly, missed.
Below is the news item about the Club celebrating his 90th birthday in 2016.
Richard Burden, Chairman, 27 10 2022
90 and still on target!
(photos are by Dave Jenkins and Bob Fripp)
On the evening of Tuesday 29th March 2016 club members gathered to celebrate Dennis Hannam’s 90th birthday. Dennis is still shooting to competition standard and has signed up for this summer’s matches.
On his arrival Dennis was greeted by the Club chairman, Richard Burden, and the Mayor of Dorchester, Robin Potter.
During his period as Club Secretary in the 1990s Dennis had been instrumental in raising funds for the range and clubroom Dorchester Rifle and Pistol Club now occupy at Sandringham Sports Centre.
Dennis was wearing his Silver Award from the National Small-bore Rifle Association. He reminisced about his post-war shooting exploits in Malaya, tie shoots with high ranking international marksmen [some he won!], his long involvement with the Potteries Rifle Club, shooting at Swanage, and the fact that he shot the first highest possible score [100] on the current Dorchester range. He still has an average score of nearly 93.
The Mayor, who is ex officio President of the Club, presented Dennis with a certificate of full honorary life membership of the Club [no more subscriptions or range fees!], and Dennis cut a celebratory cake provided by Sean Beer.
