Andrew Tucker (sport shooter)

Tucker began his shooting career in the cadet force shooting team at Felsted School, winning the Iveagh match at Bisley in 1954.[1] In 1964 he won the Grand Aggregate at the NSRA National Smallbore Rifle Meeting, and in the 1970s represented Great Britain at World Cups, partnering Malcolm Cooper.[1][2]

Andrew Tucker in front of the scoreboard after winning the Queen's Prize in 1979

In 1974 he gained his first England full-bore rifle cap.[1] In 1979 Tucker won the Queen's Prize for the first time. He won the Grand Aggregate at the 1986 Imperial Meeting, and the Queen's Prize again in 1987.[1]

Andrew Tucker firing a fullbore target rifle

Tucker represented England and won a gold medal in the fullbore rifle pairs with Simon Belither and a silver medal in the individual fullbore rifle, at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.[3][4]

In 1995, he captained the England touring team to Canada, where they beat the Canadians on their home range in Ottawa.[1]

Andrew St George Tucker was born in 1937 in Edinburgh.[1] Although born in Scotland, his parents were English and he chose to represent England in competition. He attended Felsted School in Essex, where he joined the shooting team of the CCF.[2]

During National Service, he was posted to armourer duties on account of his shooting abilities. In 1958 he left the RAF and joined the prestigious gunmaking firm of Cogswell & Harrison of Piccadilly, where he met his future wife - the sister of a colleague.[1]

In 1964, Tucker married Kathy and they moved to Cobham, Surrey, founding Andrew Tucker Gunsmiths - manufacturing sporting firearms as well as shooting jackets, slings and gloves.[1] "Tucker jackets" became a common piece of equipment amongst British target shooters for the next 30 years.[5]

Tucker died aged 65 on 9th July 2003 following a five year battle with cancer.[1]