Robert Michael Mott, Mike or Motty was a remarkable man. A lawyer, historian, an excellent shot in many disciplines, a unique, mischievous character and bon viveur.  And so it is with great sadness I report of his sudden death on Monday 12th October, in the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham, just 3 days after his 81st Birthday.  

His shooting career spanned over 70 years, during which time he shot Shotgun, Smallbore Rifle and Pistol, Classic Pistol, Muzzle Loading Shotgun, Pistol, Rifle & Match Rifle. He also shot Target Rifle, winning his first Open Competition in 1954 aged just 15, the same year as attending his first main meeting. Although he continued shooting locally, after a break for family duties, he returned to Bisley in 1979, and although concentrating on Long Range Muzzle loading from the early 1990’s he carried on with the ‘modern stuff’ including a short lived sojourn into Match Rifle Shooting which ended in a louder bang than either he or his shooting partner expected! 

This was just one aspect of a man with many talents, and diverse interests. Outside of shooting he had a passion for fell walking and in particular exploring the Lake District, an interest inherited from his father. In character he did this to an extent that rivalled Alfred Wainwright (whom he claims he met on his wanderings). His knowledge of the fells, towns, villages, hamlets and history thereof was encyclopaedic.  

But it was shooting that was the unbreakable thread running through his life. Mike started shooting in the roof of the family home in West Bridgford. He and his father, George Robert Mott (ON 1918-1926), set up a range with stationary and moving targets fashioned from Meccano. This range was fairly short lived as it transpired the bullet catcher was not up to the job, and neither were the roof tiles……or their neighbours’. Moving to the garden seemed a better idea until a mishap with a pistol, the hot water cylinder and the subsequent flood cut that short too. At 14 on joining the CCF he continued his shooting at Nottingham High School, and outside School he and his father shot for the Castle Rifle and Pistol Club based in the sandstone caves under Nottingham Castle.  

He never said where his interest in shooting came from. Possibly it was just because his father shot, possibly mixing with Submarine commanders and Bomber pilots during the war and listening to their various tales of derring do. Perhaps it was through his old friend Dougie Woods, a pre-war Queens Prize winner who regaled him stories of Bisley. However, I rather think that it was more to do with a dislike of Rugby and charging around a muddy field in the cold and wet in favour of a nice warm range and a crafty fag!  

Following unremarkable results in his ‘O’ levels (a family trait) he had a very short stint as a radio broadcaster: he and his pals manged to tune his army surplus radio transmitter into the BBC’s frequency and give a rather bawdy commentary to a ballet being shown on TV. They thought the commentary was just on their TV. However, it transpired that whoever was watching within a 5 mile radius received the benefit of their interpretation of the dancers’, shall we say, finer points. His father took stock and removed him from the 6th form after one term and told him to report to the receptionist, at 8.30 on the dot, at the family firm of solicitors. His first conundrum was how to get there since his father rarely arrived before 10.00 (the joys of a senior partner at the time) and him not even having a bicycle. Suffice to say he made it and over the next few years learned the business from the bottom up, qualifying as a solicitor in November 1964, 31 years after his father and 72 years after his grandfather who founded the firm. 

Mike remembered with fondness attending the School of Law at Guilford, mainly due to its proximity to Bisley, which inevitably resulted in a short and unplanned extension to his solicitor training as shooting was far more interesting than ‘Trust Accounts and Book Keeping’. However, he always claimed that it was his Mother’s fault for whisking him off to Claridges and a night in town the day before his last exam. Frankly either or both could be true. During this time he shot a few main meetings, generally just the weekend, and his best result was a tie for the Century. Unfortunately, he had to be back at work before the tie could be shot. He was also in the Old Nottinghamians team that won the Public Schools Veterans Trophy, one of his favourite medals.  

Returning to Nottingham he and his School pal John Pearce settled into articles at their respective law firms during which time they met up every Thursday night for a pint. Over the next few years old school pals returned to Nottingham and the ‘gang’ expanded to 20 plus in number. 60 years later, although sadly fewer in number, the pals still meet on a Thursday night.   

Mike, a 3rd generation Solicitor, rose through the ranks at the firm and although losing his father only a few years after he was made a partner, he succeeded to the position of Senior Partner in the 1980s, running the firm until his semi-retirement (he never really retired as to this day his counsel was invaluable) 20 years later. During this time he was involved in the BLA, an alternative to the London centric Law Society, he was instructed as an agent solicitor for various government departments and was honoured for his services with an invitation to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. He was also rightly proud of his certificate from the Law Society congratulating him on his 50 years on the Roll of Solicitors, although he often lamented on the state of the profession nowadays. It is testament to him that I have received so many messages of condolence from Clients saying how much they valued his counsel over the years. 

Having established himself in the family business, and when his children were old enough, Mike was able to resume competitive shooting, and concentrated on Target Rifle. Although never realising his ambition of a Queens 100 badge he was a solid Team Shooter for Nottinghamshire and the Old Nottinghamians. He was in the winning team for the KG V in 1979, the first time Nottinghamshire had been seen on the honours board in the English XX club since the early 1900s. He was also in the Astor team of 1981 when it was won by the Old Nottinghamians with a then record score. His name also appears on many of the Nottinghamshire Rifle Associations trophies and he was the open county champion on at least one occasion.  

Whilst shooting Target Rifle he was also indulging in his passion for historical arms. For many years he was involved with both Thorpe Cloud Rifle Range in Derbyshire and more particularly ‘The Sand Pit’ as he called it, home of the Nott’s and Derby Vintage Arms Society. He would spend many happy and frustrating hours there experimenting with loads and bullets, techniques etc trying to gain accuracy with his collection of Enfields, park guns and match rifles to name but a few. All his works are meticulously documented and in the future will no doubt help others with this dark art. 

His perseverance paid off and apart from his many achievements with the MLAGB he was most proud to be selected to represent Great Britain in the World Championships in Spain & the USA and for the NRA team to Canada where he set two world records with his original Rigby Rifle. He followed this up a few years later when he captained the Great Britain Team to South Africa. He was particularly fond of Canada and South Africa, not just for the shooting but because the genuine and generous friends he made and of whom he talked most fondly. He also shot in the Entente Cordiale match and as a lifelong Francophile made excellent friends amongst the French shooters, some of whom, with very little persuasion travelled annually to a shoot in a match he instigated at Thorpe Cloud.  

Not only did he take part, he also gave back. He sat on the NRA Disciplinary Committee for a number of years. He was Chairman of the MLAGB for a while and President of the Notts and Derby Vintage Arms Society. He was also Chairman of the Notts Rifle Association for a period and continued to be involved in the Association being a Vice President of the same. He was a well-respected advisor to the Police and public on Firearms matters and willingly offered help to all those who needed it. He enjoyed teaching shooting and has passed on his love and knowledge of the sport not only to his children but also his grandchildren. His Grandson Edward (15) having joined his local smallbore club and just   taken delivery of his first rifle.   

In the week before he died we had been chatting about air pistols; his latest toy, and how he enjoyed plinking in the back garden again, especially as there were no hot water cylinders in range! He had just spent the day of his 81st birthday making charges for his next shoot and was ready for his Birthday meal. The following day he was out and about mowing the lawn, cutting the hedge and walking Bobby, his ever faithful and rather grumpy sidekick. 

He leaves behind his wife Muriel who, over the last 35 years, worked tirelessly behind the scenes cooking, cleaning, marking, scoring, entertaining his cronies and the shooting widows, and generally supporting him to the extent that he could not have enjoyed himself half as much without her. Also his boys William and Henry, who both shoot, Mark and Paul, and all their families of whom I know he was immensely proud, and a legacy of memories and tales, some taller than others, but all based on truth. 

By William Mott (ON 1794-1984)