Target Sports

SPECIAL REPORT: LONDON CALLING

Created on 15th May 2009

MICK GAULT OBE reports from a very special award ceremony in Buckingham Palace

IT ALL started in mid-November. I was off work with a bad case of man flu when the post arrived and I noticed a letter from Downing Street. ‘What the hell have I done now?' I thought, but upon reading it, the letter said that I had been awarded the title of Officer of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire. After re-reading it with a hot lemon drink it transpired that yes, I was to be awarded an OBE for services to shooting, but I had to keep the offer in ‘strictest confidence.' So I phoned the wife and told her. I ticked the ‘accept' box, placed the form in the stamped addressed envelope and returned it to Downing Street. The letter said that after accepting the award I would not be contacted again until the Honours' list was printed in the London Gazette on the 1 January 2008, although the press might contact me 12 hours before it was published. As it got closer to 1 January 2008 doubt started to creep in: "did I tick the correct box?" "did they even get my reply?" So when the Eastern Daily Press phoned me on 31 December and the reporter said "I think you know why I am phoning Mr Gault," I replied "I don't know - you tell me." "Oh," she said, "I am phoning about your OBE." "I was hoping you would say that!" I replied.

During the following week I received letters of congratulations from all over the place. The most unexpected was from the Chief Constable of Norfolk. Others were from the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, the NRA, the NSRA and more - I will get down to replying to them all soon!

Several weeks later a letter from Buckingham Palace summoned me to appear on Wednesday 19 March by 10am. I could bring three guests with me. I first thought of Tom Redhead, my friend and coach; Nick Baxter, my team mate who has helped me win so many of the medals I hold; and last but far from least my long-suffering wife Janet. Nick and Tom pointed out that I should take my mother and daughter, so that's what I did. And of course they all ‘needed' new outfits.

We all travelled to London by train and booked into the Union Jack Club, a club for serving and retired members of the armed forces. The day before the ceremony I was dragged around Harrods - they sell toy dogs for £1,500. On the big day we awoke early and dressed in all our new finery. I called a taxi and said "take me to Buckingham Palace." I had been tipped off that we should get there early if my guests were to get good seats. We arrived at the palace with about 30 minutes to spare and already a queue was forming. I was shown into a large room where a gentleman pinned a hook to my suit and asked me what award I was to be given. I was suddenly surrounded by people in suits, posh frocks and big hats, and I was getting a little nervous. Some military types came into the room, gathered everybody round and told us exactly what we had to do. I realised that many people were more nervous than me.

An official called us forward in batches of 10. We were led into an annexe just outside the ballroom, where Prince Charles was standing on a dais in front of a crowd of about 300 relatives and friends. One by one we were led into the ballroom. When it was my turn I saw my family sitting in the front row - don't ask me how they got there! When the previous recipient left the Prince my name was called out. That was my cue to walk forward a few paces, turn left, look the Prince in the eye and bow my head - remembering not to curtsy as one male recipient did! HRH the Prince of Wales put the medal pin over the hook and started asking me about shooting. The last question he asked me was, "is there much in the way of young blood entering the sport?" I told him there are a few youngsters coming in but since the handgun ban the flow has slowed to a trickle. I think this was the cue for the Prince to offer his hand and my time to move on. I must say this for Prince Charles, there were 104 recipients ranging from Knights, CBEs, OBEs, MBEs and others on the day and he had time for and showed interest in every recipient.

I exited stage right and was ushered to another room where my medal was removed and placed into a box. At this point I found myself sitting next to Jasper Conran, and I bet he was thinking ‘Wow, I'm sitting next to Mick Gault' (or not).

The medal itself is valued at around £48, but it's what it stands for that counts and that's priceless.

I would like to thank everyone who had some part in making this happen for me and the sport of pistol shooting.

SPECIAL REPORT: LONDON CALLING

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SPECIAL REPORT: LONDON CALLING

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