The British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) is one of the most well known and respected organisations of its kind and in 2008, the organisation celebrates its Centenary.
As one of the organisation’s longest standing supporters, Chudleys is proud of its association with BASC. Much has changed over the course of the last 100 years, but here is a brief overview of how it all started.
The Wildfowlers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland (WAGBI), which was later to become known as BASC, was formed in 1908 by founder Stanley Duncan and friends and was based in the Black Hut, a far cry from the mill offices used today at Rossett. The outbreak of the First World War almost caused the organisation to flounder but it managed to keep ticking over in the 1920s-30s and through the course of the Second World War.
In 1949, with the prospect of a new Protection of Birds Act, WAGBI started to take off. The arrival of John Anderton sparked a new era and the 1970s saw the change from a part time organisation to a professional outfit that has become recognised as the leading shooting and conservation organisation in the UK today. Key dates in the history of the organisation include the 1976 purchase of Marford Mill, Rossett, as a new head office, 1979 and the opening of the Scottish office and the 1981 name change from WAGBI to BASC.
In addition to the National Headquarters, BASC has grown to boast five regional centres in England, 3 national centres in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, a staff of 103 and a membership of 127,000 that continues to grow on an annual basis.
Dodson & Horrell and Chudleys have long been involved in BASC and congratulate them on reaching such a milestone. Bill Chudley, Sales & Marketing Director at Dodson & Horrell and a BASC centenary patron commented: “Dodson & Horrell would like to congratulate BASC during its Centenary year. Dodson & Horrell/Chudleys have been associated with BASC for over 20 years and we have sponsored their gundog events for the whole of this period. We have found the association with them to be very worthwhile and have forged strong links with BASC members, who have been very loyal to the Chudleys brand. We have found that the association with BASC has strengthened the Chudleys brand within the gundog world and long may this continue”. To celebrate this centenary year, BASC has launched its own beer with Hook Norton, called Double Barrelled, that has proved such a hit that the draught has already sold out but it is still available in bottles. Special centenary cartridges have also been launched in partnership with Eley Hawk, and a proportion of every sale will go towards the new BASC communications centre which is being built to defend shooting for the next 100 years.
If you are interest in becoming a member of BASC or would like to take part in the Chudleys sponsored gundog events, visit www.basc.org.uk
