 Andrew and Peter Dickson By Glen Willard |
I met Andrew and Peter Dickson on a Monday afternoon in mid-September at their recently opened London Shooting Club. Monday is a day the club is generally closed to the public. We had a pleasant two-hour visit. The story of their being in Kyiv and doing business is both typical and atypical of expat stories of arrival in Ukraine. Typical in that it fits the pattern of those of us who arrive for one reason or another, frequently unexpectedly, find reason to stay and then do.
It's atypical due to their original arrival not having much to do with the business that keeps them here now, but that arrival does have a relationship to the shooting club they have begun, originally due to Andrew's lifetime avocation.
In London some years ago the brothers were associated with and ran two very exclusive shooting clubs. Those clubs had about 600 members each and, according to Andrew, would still be successful were it not for the passage of very restrictive laws on gun ownership in England. Andrew's interest in the clubs and guns comes, at least in part from a military career and his assignments, which related to the training and use of weapons and marksmanship.
A trip to the former Soviet Union by a group of gun club members in London in 1991 led Andrew and Peter to Kyiv and competition with some members in the Soviet military, which as I understand were primarily police officers. The London gun club members numbered about 30 with the Dynamo Gun Club (the police club) being the competition. That in turn led to a reciprocal trip to London by Dynamo members and 4 days competition at Scotland Yard.
The story of the trip to Kyiv as told by Andrew is an interesting one, particularly as to his impressions of Kyiv and local activities at the time. Apparently, Kyiv was quite a dark, somewhat foreboding place, but the trip and the experiences were found to be very pleasant.
Only, some year's later, post independence, did the brothers have occasion to return to Ukraine and that was in pursuit of non-gun club related businesses. Presently the brothers own Puma Trading, which exports finished oak products. Oak is in high demand throughout Europe and particularly in England, where Ukraine white oak products are considered very "up market".
A swath of fine, primarily white oak tree grows throughout a central section of Ukraine in a north-south direction. These particular stands of timber begin to the south of Ukraine in Romania and continue north beyond Ukraine's borders. What was of particular interest to me was to find that this oak tree strand is well-protected by the government. In fact, it has been long recognized as a prime national resource and was protected before and through the Soviet era. Ukraine now continues the successful husbandry practices of prior years. The forests are well managed. If three trees are taken, three must be planted. Cutting is rationed due to the slow growth and long lives of the trees.
The London Shooting Club project has been in development for over two years. Development has been slow not only due to the usual time consuming nature of permitting and general development in Kyiv, but also due to the brothers' other business activities.
The gun club is complete, but for the planned addition of a sauna and swimming pool. Besides the shooting facilities and a modern viewing area equipped with cameras, the club has a restaurant, a billiards and activity room as well as lockers and storage rooms. The entire indoor facility is air-conditioned.
The club has six automatic target systems, running to a distance of 50 meters, Andrew told me. On a previous visit, I was shown numerous rifles, pistols and air compression firing pieces. I can't elaborate, for I've only been a woods shooter using my own and others' various "squirrel guns" as I was growing up. I consider myself the kind of novice that could be a candidate for the club's services.
Presently they offer classes and individual instruction. Andrew himself is an instructor and they have several other trained professionals. Andrew discussed an initial lesson that would include 20 minutes on safety and marksmanship followed by 40 minutes of coaching instruction, all for about Hr 100.
Other things I learned, but probably should have known: Visiting gun clubs is sport and a great group activity. It compares to a bowling or billiards night out. The week prior to our meeting, Andrew told me they had a stag party in from London. The group enjoyed a first time visit to Kyiv and used the shooting club as the major planned activity for the trip. The club can presently entertain groups of up to about 50 people.
One key to the development of the shooting club, I learned, is that the facility has always been a gun club. It had been used by one of the communist youth organizations as a shooting and recreation club. At the time of its acquisition by the Dicksons, the facility had not been in use for 10 years and was in considerable disrepair. Nevertheless, that apparently facilitated its restoration even though it was a complete remont. Both the interior and exterior are very modern and the interior is very pleasant.
Both brothers are entertaining fellows who say they love living in Kyiv. Andrew said that he finds Kyiv preferable to London, and compares Ukraine to France, for its geography and climate. And besides his shooting avocation he enjoys Kyiv's nightlife as well as obtaining pleasure from the Dnipro and its tributaries where one can find him canoeing in micro light vessels.
Plans are for the club to begin taking membership applications soon. Andrew and Peter want to develop the club gradually and on an exclusive basis. They are not in a hurry. For those interested in shooting and the surrounding companionship and camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts, I recommend giving them a call.
Presently The London Shooting Club is described by Andrew as a "day club". Visitors can secure an invitation by calling the club at 38 (044) 455 93 75.
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Read also previous issue' articles:
Political ‘Faces’
Ahmet Tanyu: On Starting Up
A Kodak Moment
with Andrey Pleskonos
Philip Morris's Raman Berent International & Experienced
Ian Boag: European neighbor
The Velvet Songstress
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