In July 1952, at the age of 18, Neil Joy (R 47-51) left the College shooting team and walked across the Bisley ranges to enjoy his first shoot as a member of the Old Framlinghamian Rifle Club.(OFRC). He was firing a WW2 No 4 .303 and aiming at tin hat targets. Now, sixty years later, he’s using a modern Swing .308 target rifle on a black circular aiming mark. Remarkably, he has continued to use OFRC club equipment and rifles throughout these years and always finds a jacket to fit. The scores remain consistently good and he has been known to achieve the occasional possible “50 ex 50”. His scoring diagrams from July 1952 and 2012 show that old shooters never fade away, they just need more sighters. Truly a “Diamond Geezer”, we have all come to rely on Neil who is always the willing soldier in helping his colleagues in every small way, from carrying the club equipment and rifles, to collecting the ammunition, or offering the advice of experience to our youngest shooter - aged 18, just as he was in 1952. As a volunteer, all tasks are completed with a smile and equal enthusiasm.
In July 2012, at the age of 78, Neil celebrated his 60th year shooting with the OFs and, at the OFRC AGM on 12th July, he was presented with an OFRC Jubilee Medal to commemorate this magnificent achievement.
 Neil Joy in action
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