By Douglas Tate
The planet is getting smaller. New technologies are moving us about quicker than ever. In England a fast train from Paddington will get you to Purdey’s new shooting school, in Pangbourne, in just 25 minutes—about the same time it took to get to Purdey’s old prewar grounds, in Eastcote, despite the distance being much greater.
Announcing the acquisition of the Royal Berkshire Shooting Group, Purdey chairman James Horne said, “We are delighted to welcome the RBSG team and combine these two outstanding brands, offering our shooting customers an expanded range of first-class products and services.” A glance at the RBSG website emphasizes the shooting grounds’ proximity to the motorway that connects to Heathrow.
The shooting school, which is set on 65 acres, features a retail outlet and is home to The Really Wild Clay Company, which arranges simulated game shoots across the UK. The new owners stressed that RBSG would continue to offer its existing range of services, which includes arranging driven-game shoots, but with “additions from the Purdey portfolio.”
Dylan Williams, RBSG’s Managing Director, who founded the school in 1991, is clearly delighted with the uniting of two globally recognized brands. “We look forward to working closely in the future with the dynamic Purdey team,” he said.
