Sadly it is my duty to inform you all that former Suffolk Chairman and former East Midlands CPSA Representative Dick Hails passed away this morning, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Patricia & Family.

Pictured - Dick receiving from Janet Stennett a Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Shooting in the East Midlands Region in 2016.

A Tribute from the Regional Secretary - Colin Butler

It is with the greatest sadness that I must report that former Suffolk Chairman and former East Midlands Representative Dick Hails passed away on Friday morning after a short illness.

I first got to know Dick back in 2001, I was elected to represent Northamptonshire on the East Midlands CPSA committee and quickly identified Dick as someone who could be relied upon to give sound advice to not just me as someone finding their way in committee life but anyone involved in shooting.

Over the years I had many conversations with Dick including regular phone calls not just to talk about shooting but to enquire about my health, and I include in that the latter days of Dicks life, with all the problems he had he phoned me from his hospital bed to enquire how I was after a recent shoulder operation.

Not many shooters put something back into the sport they love but nobody could ever accuse Dick of that, he spent more years on the East Midlands committee than anyone can recall, in fact Dick himself could only ever hazard a guess and the same can be said serving the Suffolk committee most notably as Chairman where he oversaw many victories in the Directors Trophy something that is very close to my heart, and I know how very proud Dick was to be Chairman of the victorious Suffolk team.

As I established myself as the Regional Secretary I was proud that Dick took it upon himself to contact me and ask for advice on several occasions, very humbling moments that someone so well read in our sport would not be too proud to ask advice from this rookie secretary.

Dick was quite simply one of life’s gentlemen, a sentiment that is echoed out by many of the comments made on social media since the announcement of Dicks passing, he will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him, it’s hard to believe I will never hear him say his customary greeting to me, “Hello old fella”.

Well “Goodbye Old Fella”, its been a delight to have known you, a privilege to have been considered a friend and an honour to have shaken your hand.

God Bless Dick, sleep well.

Our thoughts and prayers are now with his wife Patricia, family and friends.

I will of course publish details of the arrangement’s once made.

Funeral Details and Charity Donations

The funeral is to be held Friday 28th June at 1pm at the West Suffolk Crematorium, Risby, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6RR.

The Crematorium is a short distance from Junction 42 of the A14.

Family Flowers only but donations can be made to two different charities in Dick’s memory. Bloodwise and Somersham Ward Cancer Unit Support Group. Donations can be made in two ways via JustGiving pages or direct to the funeral service.

To donate to Bloodwise please go to this link......

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Dick-Hails-1

 

To donate to Somersham ward cancer unit support group please go to this link......

http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Dick-Hails-2

 

Donations can be made payable to Susan Whymark Funeral Service Ltd, to benefit both chosen charities. These may be sent c/o Chestnut House, 12 Progress Way, Eye, IP23 7HU Tel: 01379 871168.