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1962
In 1962 an unofficial B.R.A. team made up of Messrs T.G. McKinstry, M.G. Tucker, J.M.
Cave, and J.E. Grffrith went to Bisley; but performances were below par. In
1964 M.G. Tucker and M.R. DeVerteuil went unofficially and this time Tucker again got into the Queen's III, besides
winning the "Fanthorp" and "Donald Smith".
It has previously been observed that in 1919 the safety of the Rifle Range at Graves End
was compromised by encroachments arising from the activities of the
British Union Oil Company. During the period 1945-1963 came further encroachments in the form of bathing huts erected between the 300 yards and 500 yards banks, the molasses terminal erected west of the 100 yards and 200 yards banks, the Isolation Hospital and also the water cooling system of the Barbados Light and Power Co. Ltd., popularly called
"'The Pot". which was located near the 500 yards bank.
Paragon: (1944 - 1969)
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In 1944, not long before the end of World War 11, Mr. J.M. Cave "discovered" that Paragon
pasture, which had been acquired by the Government when Seawell Estate was bought as a site for the Island's airport, had little or no potential for agricultural or tourism
development, but seemed to be suitable for a rifle range. Accordingly, during the following few years, he spent much time making appropriate surveys. From these he prepared a plan for an alternative 600 yard range and submitted this to the
B.R.A. Is Council in 1950.
Not long afterwards on realising the commercial value and potential of the Graves End area, the Government appointed a Committee whose term of reference, basically, were "To find a more suitable site for a Rifle Range".
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The Committee, which included the Officer Commanding the Barbados Regiment, Colonel J. Connell, and W Second-in-
Command, Major O.F.C. Walcott, after making a survey of more than a dozen sites reported that Graves End was the one they considered most suitable and convenient.
In 1964, however, when the Government took over the area for the building of the Barbados
Hilton Hotel, the Premier, the Ron. E.W. Barrow, appointed a new
Committee, headed by Major R.A. Stoute, the Police commissioner, with representatives from both the Barbados Regiment and the Barbados Rifle Association, to
find a site for a new Rifle Range.
The Committee which included Mr. J.M. Cave, who had discovered Paragon pasture and thought it suitable, recommended
this place, and suggested that accommodation be made for eight targets as well as for
fjring points of up to 1000 yards, now that additional land had been acquired at Spencer's Plantation, adjacent.
The period 1964 to 1969 was one of frustration and inactivity for the
B.R.A., occasioned by delays, changes in the staff of the Public Works Department: the Authority responsible for construction of the new Range, and also by unrealistic estimates of costs. Valuable advice given by some visiting members of the National Rifle Association also was not
followed, because when the work was started a new Director of Public Works was in office.
But finally, in 1969, the Paragon Range was completed and was handed over by Mr. Barrow, now Prime Minister, to the control of the Barbados Regiment.
When the B.R.A. resumed shooting in March they encountered problems rather similar to those of 1919; that the
S.M.L.E. Rifle, the P14 and the No.4 were by modern standards, now inaccurate.
The new weapon was the NATO 7.62 calibre rifle which, with its ammunition, could outgroup the old .303.
Its heavier barrel, reinforced action, high velocity, ring foresight and other refinements meant that the few
surviving active members of the B.R.A. were faced with additional expense.
These problems were compounded by others. For a start, there were no new war veterans to draw from as in 1919 and
1945. The Range, good as it was, was located far from Bridgetown; the road,
if it could so be called, was impassable when wet; there was also no hut with the normal facilities, and none of the old efficient and experienced markers. A slow and uneasy start was thus made that
year, with few members and fewer funds. Nevertheless, toward the end of the year
the B.R.A. made its
first efforts at 900 yards and 1000 yards.
The Council at that time consisted of J.M. Cave, Frank Edwards - secretary, Frank Davis - treasurer,
G.C. Bancroft, C.E. Neblett, C.R.E. Warner, A.S. Warren, M.G.Tucker, and
G.V. Cheong.
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