Hello, one and all and a happy new year! We are all looking forward to 2022 but first a final goodbye to 2021 with part 4 of our SitPet renovation update with a review of what’s happened in 2021.
It’s been a while since our last official update for those not following along with our Facebook updates and we’ve been very busy!
On 2nd June 2021, we successfully raised £12,652 with 172 supporters in 56 days to support renovation works and in November we returned to normality with the post covid return of our flagship November shooting event the Bonfire Bonanza, with over 130 attendees!
The BYSA team has been putting a lot of effort towards getting Sitpet up and running as soon as possible for use by all young shooters based at or visiting Bisley! So here’s a breakdown of all the work that’s been occurring during the year:
• In May, the foundations for the accommodation were laid, and the blockwork for the armoury was being built. New supporting walls for the accommodation are now in place, and all the stud work for the accommodation, living area and bathrooms were completed. Underfloor insulation was fitted, floors replaced and the framing for the pod beds were constructed. By the end of May, the armoury block work was now up to half height.
• By June, new ceiling joists, floors, insulation, and the electrics were being installed and worked on, as well as the armoury door surround was reinforced and cast with concrete.
At the end of the month, all structural work was completed, all the plumbing completed, and the bathrooms fitted. Pod beds are now clad and being wired up, then we started putting the ceilings up and plaster boarding the walls.
• After a little break, in August saw all the plasterboard go up, the pod beds finished up, any remaining wiring complete and the window frames were sealed in ready for winter! This was all in preparation for the central heating system being installed, which happened in early September.
A big thanks to Lee Brown of The Peak Group Ltd, and all their associates that kindly donated material, their own time and expertise, to come and install it for free. On behalf of all current and future BYSA members, we are so grateful for all your support, and will go a long way to help more young people get into and continue shooting!
• October was a busy month for us. Preparation for pouring the concrete to create the armoury roof took a while, putting up the shuttering and the reinforced steel into place ready for the pour. But also, the lights, fire alarm system, CCTV and security access systems were installed! One big sticking issue though was finding a Home Office compliant armoury door. The best quote we received was £7500+VAT! So instead, we made our own armoury door to Home Office specification. It’s a 10mm steel plate, with a 10mm angle iron frame, and lots of steel bar. Not light at all by any means!
• By the end of October, the armoury roof was finally poured and by mid-November, the shuttering was finally taken down, and we had a set concrete roof in place!
Then, the armoury floor was fitted with a damp proof membrane and jablite insulation before being screeded. Later, the armoury door was finally fitted, which took 3 people and a frame to hang it! The screeding on the armoury floor is now done, and lockers will be installed very shortly! This marks one of the last steps for our armoury, and we’re very pleased with how far it’s come.
• In early December 106 gun lockers were built, ready for fitting into the armoury the following weekend.
And that’s the journey so far! As you can see, the sheer volume of work required was a huge undertaking. But with help from our own committee, as well as volunteers and people donating materials, we are getting there. A huge thank you to everyone involved, without you this would be impossible! There are plenty of exciting updates coming your way, and we can’t wait to show them off.
Stay tuned and have a great BYSA 2022!
Shooting Love
BYSA
