A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL BRUNTON

MICHAEL BRUNTON B.E.M.

1947 – 2021

A TRIBUTE BY DEREK MOORE

On the 3rd of March, 2021, we lost Michael Brunton— the man who started this glossy clay shooting magazine in all its glory. Michael sadly suffered a massive stroke and never recovered. His family and friends were devastated. I have such fond memories of Michael and would like to tell you the story of how he and I met and give tribute to my old friend and mentor.

In 2001 I was writing for a newspaper run by Neil Chadwick and Debbie Philips (now Chadwick) called The Clay Pigeon. The publication only employed a few writers—enough for an everyother-week publication. It was becoming difficult to sustain advertising, the life blood for all magazines, so when the opportunity arose it was only natural to fold Clay Pigeon into ClayShootingUSA. Neil’s sale of Clay Pigeon to Brunton publications began my long relationship with Michael Brunton.

Michael and I spoke at length about the new magazine and how he envisioned it working. I suggested taking on writers like Bruce Buck, as he had a well-liked column in Clay Pigeon called The Technoid, and his gun reviews were excellent.

Michael invited me to England for the first leg of the Triple Classic, which was held on the grounds of Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed. He paid for everything, putting me up in a great hotel nearby and treating me to perhaps the best run shoot I have ever experienced. Everything ran like clockwork, from the transit that took us out to the courses, to the smallest details—everything was spot on. In the week I was there I never saw a single trap being loaded.

When in England I was treated to a warm evening at the Brunton home, where I met Fiona, Michael’s beautiful wife, while British shooting legend John Bidwell sat nonchalantly in the corner of the room. Everything was done with a certain level of class not often found anymore.

Michael was meticulous in his level of detail and you always felt you were in good hands when he edited your work. He had a way of nurturing I had not experienced before. He did not tell you what to do, instead guided with gentle suggestions as to what he was looking for.

I asked a few choice shooters for input on this article. Following are their heartfelt responses.

Mike Brunton was one of my very first “sponsors” when I was a junior shooter. Right from the beginning he was undoubtedly one of the most professional businessmen you’d ever wish to meet, with a clear passion for the clay shooting world.

His influence on me was strong... he was always impeccably dressed, knew exactly what he wanted from life and was extremely generous to boot.

Since Mike took a step back from the shooting world a few years ago, he was instantly missed by everyone who knew him, but he has left a legacy in the memory of a lot of people who shot the events that he put on around the world.

Richard Faulds MBE Owls Lodge Shooting School

It was a great shock to hear of Mike passing away.

I will never forget this man, as he was a great inspiration to a lot of people, including myself, for what he brought to the clay shooting world and organizing some of the best competitions.

During those years he was a man who made it happen, not just talking about it—he just did it, organizing some of the best sponsored and prestigious events the sport has seen and giving shooters the best of the best.

I remember when High Lodge organized one of the FITASC Classics, which was sponsored by Krieghoff. Mike looked at the layout and said to me ‘The targets look good, but I would like one layout with extreme targets, something shooters will talk about’ so we made the K80 layout tough, and that layout is still talked about, even today.

Well done Mike, I shall never forget you.

John Bidwell

MICHAEL AND GEORGE DIGWEED

Mike was a total legend in the sport of clay shooting. The ‘Classics’ he ran were world class events. It was a privilege to have been around in those days to witness how professional clay shoots were run by Mike and his team. Mike was a wonderful husband, a fabulous father and grandfather, and a true long term friend to George and I.

I hope they have plenty of Silk Cuts and red wine for you in heaven…

Kate Digweed

Michael Brunton was the one person throughout my career that ‘got’ how to run a proper shoot. Mike was a top man, with top values, and the shooting World will be a far worse place without him.

He will always be remembered for the Classics, but he did a lot more behind the scenes for shooting than people will ever realize.

George Digweed MBE

It’s a rare thing when someone is a great innovator/ promoter in the ‘game’, and they have a total altruistic outlook for the sport, and all in it... Michael Brunton was such a man! I personally, and the sport as a whole, owe this man greatly. Vaya Con Dios my friend!

Will Fennell

Michael will be greatly missed. The staff of both TrapShootingUSA and ClayShootingUSA magazines are better off having been mentored by him. Thanks, Michael for being there for all of us and for passing us into good hands when you left.

Rest in peace my friend. n

A full obituary can be found at www.thepackagingportal.com

If you would like to make a donation to ‘Stars Appeal’, Michael’s chosen charity, please visit: michaelbrunton.muchloved.com

Kate Digweed reports that a Michael Brunton memorial shoot will be held at Richard Faulds’ Owls Lodge Shooting School on Saturday July 3rd. This is just before the World Sporting at E.J. Churchill shooting grounds.