Brian Bailey

When he was four-years-of-age, Brian Bailey moved to Wem in Shropshire with his family. His father owned a haulage business, and would be seen around the town delivering coal with his eight shire horses. Brian worked in the family business as a youngster and later ran Edwards and Bailey Coal Merchants, which his son Ian eventually took over. The town of Wem made Brian an Honorary Townsman and named a street, Bailey Close, in his honour.

Bailey had an excellent record as a clay pigeon shooter. He represented Great Britain at the 1972 München Olympics and two years later won a silver medal at the British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand. Domestically, Bailey won the English DTL (Down the Line) trap title four times, and dominated the Welsh DTL Championship in the 1960s. Bailey also won the Dougall Memorial, one of the oldest DTL competitions, dating to 1896. He won it six times in eight years, including four in succession. He won the British Clay Pigeon Shooting Grand Prix three times in 1971-72, and 1974, when Formula One motor racing champion Jackie Stewart was one of his rivals.

After his competitive career, Bailey coached the British shooting team for many years, and led them to the 1986 World Shooting Championships, and 1988 Seoul Olympics. The Clay Pigeon Society made him a Lifetime Honorary Member.