This is The Phoenix Shooters Association.

Air Raid Shelter or Shooting Range?

The Phoenix Shooters Association, in partnership with Mostyn House School in Parkgate has opened the first target shooting range in the Wirral in well over over fifty years. Mostyn House School built an air-raid shelter to protect the pupils and staff during the Second World War - and it was used several times during the war. Afterwards it was used as an indoor sporting facility, but then fell into disuse and was used as a store although some flooding made it unsuitable. Phoenix Shooters Association have spent the last two years clearing the shelter, repairing it, and converting it into a target shooting range - all whilst trying to retain much of the history at the same time. Mrs Valerie Place, (the widow of Geoffrey Place the Parkgate historian and author) opened the range on Wednesday 27th February 2008 together with Mostyn House's Headmistress, Ms Suzi Grenfell. The Range is named "The Geoffrey Place Range" as Geoffrey was also the President of the Preparatory Schools Rifle Association, and he steered the school to many national successes in shooting over the years. This is the first target shooting range to open in the Wirral since the Grange Rifle and Pistol Club in Caldy, which opened over fifty years ago and in doing so it shows the increased demand for the shooting sports. Phoenix Shooters were formed in the Wirral thirty years ago, shooting at Sealand Ranges and local clay pigeon layouts, and now they will have a base at the school - benefitting them and the school. Mary Eveleigh - the secretary of the PSA said - "We really hope that Mostyn House School pupils can get back to the days when their teams dominated Preparatory school shooting in England. This range will give them the facility to do that. Shooting in schools is seen as a controversial subject by those who don't know about the sport. They often see it as aggressive and dangerous, when in fact it requires tremendous self control and self discipline to shoot well. As well as that it teaches young people responsibility, and these are important lessons in life." Below - early stages of construction.