It is with great regret that STS can confirm the sad passing of Colin McEachran on 21 May 2022. Colin was a true servant and promoter of shooting, leaving a positive and friendly impression with all of those who had the pleasure of working with and shooting alongside Colin. His infectious love for the sport was impossible to ignore and not catch when you spent time with Colin. The sympathies of everyone at STS goes to Colin’s family, friends and all those who knew him.
Colin was the inaugural winner of the Bob Aitken Service to Shooting Award in 2017 so we felt it was fitting to re-share this summary of his considerable involvement and contribution to not just shooting, but Scottish sport over more than 50 years:
Colin’s involvement in shooting began over 50 years ago at Glenalmond College and continue at Oxford University where he shot in the Chancellors Match (Target Rifle) against Cambridge in 1960 and 1961. In the 1960s he also shot .22 smallbore rifle for Scotland. In 1966 he was second in the Bisley Grand Aggregate and in 1974 he shot fullbore rifle in the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch New Zealand winning a Silver Medal.
He has represented Great Britain on numerous occasions including six GB tours to Canada and was Vice Captain in 1984 and Captain in 1990. He shot in the Empire Match (now called Australia Match) in 1974 and three times in the Palma Match and 5 times in the Kolapore Match and was Captain of the GB Kolapore Team in 1995.
He has shot regularly for Scotland in the National Match -- starting in 1961 he shot 24 times and 20 times in the MacKinnon Match. He was Captain of the Scotland Team from 1991 to 1993. He also shot for Scotland in the Elcho Match (Match Rifle) in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 2002.
Colin was Chairman of the Scottish Rifle Association for 10 years from 1981 to 1990. He was also heavily involved with the organisation of Commonwealth Games shooting events and was Director of Shooting for the 1986 Edinburgh Games and was Team Manager for the Scottish team for the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
He was legal advisor to the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and held the position of Vice Chair in 1991 and then Chairman for 4 years from 1995.
He has been heavily involved in the organisation of Scottish shooting, he was the secretary and treasurer of the newly formed Scottish Shooting Council in 1966 and was instrumental in bringing together the primary disciplines together to form the Scottish Target Shooting Federation, an organisation he was to chair between 2002 and 2006, so that Government could communicate with shooting and hear the response 'with one voice'. Nowhere was this more important and evident than in our most recent plans to create a National Shooting Centre and discussions had with the then Minister for Sport, Shona Robison who made it clear just how important it was for shooting to speak with ‘one voice’. The message had got through, largely due to Colin’s unstinting efforts.
The NRA have also posted a fitting article recognising Colin’s contribution.