BASC honours gamekeepers and volunteers at The Game Fair

BASC presented its annual honours and awards at The Game Fair on Saturday 25 July, celebrating seven people whose work has strengthened shooting, conservation and the countryside community. The BASC honours and awards ceremony at Ragley Hall recognised gamekeepers, volunteers and campaigners, with chairman Eoghan Cameron saying the winners represent “the very best of shooting”.

Who won BASC’s honours and awards in 2026?

The Prince Philip Distinguished Service Award was presented posthumously to Christopher Graffius, BASC’s long-serving executive director of communications and public affairs, and received in his memory by his daughters Catriona and Elizabeth. Widely respected in Westminster and across Europe through his work with FACE, he shaped the association’s public voice for more than two decades.

Honorary life membership went to Robin Marshall-Ball, a volunteer since around 1974 and a writer on shooting matters since the 1970s. The Ian Richardson Trophy recognised Rod Greenwood, the former Sparsholt College game and wildlife management lecturer who has trained a generation of countryside professionals, and the Payne-Gallwey Long Service Award went to Paul Leyshon, secretary of Morlais Valley Shooting Club on the Burry Inlet for more than 30 years.

The Tim Sedgwick Trophy went to Lisa Amers, operations manager at Guntrader, whose parliamentary petition against proposals to reclassify Section 2 shotguns as Section 1 firearms for licensing purposes passed 100,000 signatures in under a fortnight and secured a Commons debate.

Why was Charlie Mellor named Gamekeeper of the Year?

Charlie Mellor, estate head gamekeeper of the Norfolk Estate at Arundel, leads the team behind both the Peppering Partridge Project and a commercial pheasant shoot. Since joining the project in 2009 he has helped increase grey partridge numbers on the South Downs while improving wider biodiversity through habitat management, monitoring and effective predator control.

The Stanley Duncan Conservation Trophy went to a fellow keeper, Adam Horn of Godmersham Park in Kent, who has spent the past decade creating new habitats, restoring hedgerows and establishing wildflower margins across wet grassland, downland, woodland and arable farmland.

What did the BASC chairman say?

Speaking after the presentations, BASC chairman Eoghan Cameron said: “It’s a privilege to recognise those who embody everything BASC stands for – passion, dedication and responsibility. Each year, these awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to support shooting, conservation and the communities around them.”

He added: “The achievements of this year’s recipients demonstrate the incredible commitment, expertise and enthusiasm that exists across our community. Their work represents the very best of shooting and the positive role it plays in protecting our countryside and inspiring future generations.”

What happens next

The Game Fair continues at Ragley Hall until Sunday 26 July, and the winners will be celebrated across the weekend. Details of all BASC honours and awards, including how future nominations are made, are at basc.org.uk/about/awards.