We're proud of our shooting heritage, and the experience of our family-run team here at The Oxford Gun Company.
Not many people can boast over 50 years in the gun trade. Yet, in 2022, Doug and Shirley Florent celebrated their 40th anniversary in the business. Sadly both are no longer with us; however, their experience and passion for shooting has been passed on and inherited by their two children, David and Nicky, who now own and run The Oxford Gun Company.
Doug and Shirley were drawn into shooting quickly, and with a lot of encouragement from Michael Rose (who was the senior instructor at West London Shooting Ground) they travelled together all over the world shooting F.I.T.A.S.C, Trap and English Sporting, and competed with some of the greats including Paddy Howe, Wally Sykes and AJ Smith.
Throughout the late seventies and early eighties Doug and Shirley continued to become more involved with the industry, working closely with the British Airways Gun Club and West London Shooting School to develop an A.B.T layout which eventually became the start of The Gun Club at West London Shooting School. Driven by passion, hard work and support from the Richmond-Watson family. The Gun Club became one of the busiest clubs in the country, welcoming thousands of new people into the sport and supporting existing shooters in developing their technique and style, as they cut their teeth in the world of instructing.
Having worked with Holland & Holland, Bill Lees at Boss’s Shooting Ground and with Chris Craddock, The Oxford Gun Company was started in 1988. Their careers in the industry undoubtedly involved a steep learning curve, but it gave them a clarity of insight into the industry. From retail to instructing and events management, if it happens in the countryside Doug and Shirley mastered it. At The Oxford Company they created a community which works closely with local businesses, nurturing both established and novice shots. To add to the growing success of the business, their son David started The Schools Challenge to encourage youngsters to take up clay shooting - this has now become the largest young shots organisation in the country. A further progression from this has been The Shooting Channel on YouTube, which has gained a massive following.
The Oxford Gun Company is first and foremost committed to rewriting the stereotypes attached to shooting, and showing the world that shooting is a sport for everyone...
Born into the industry, David has been shooting since he was 8 years old, and perfecting his technique ever since. His passion for the sport goes back to his school days, where he opened a shooting ground at Bredon School, aged just 14, opening up shooting to his teachers and fellow pupils.
His competitive shooting career started young, when in 1999 he took his team to the National Prep School Championships, and won!
His legacy and continued involvement with the school has helped make Bredon the UK’s leading school for clay shooting. After leaving school, David took up double trap as a discipline, competing for Great Britain, enabling him to travel all over the world.
David is hugely committed to bringing shooting into the 21st century, ensuring the sport is preserved for future generations. In addition to his competitive career, and instructing at The Oxford Gun Company, David took his drive and passion to introduce youngsters to shooting to the next level, founding The Schools Challenge over a decade ago. Encouraging young guns (aged 12-25) into country sports, The Schools Challenge has been going from strength to strength since 2005, and is a natural way for The Oxford Gun Company to secure the future of the sport.
Nicky keeps the wheels of The Oxford Gun Company machine turning with ease. Her ‘all hands on deck attitude’ makes her a bit of an organisational mastermind - she heads up the planning and execution of The Oxford Gun Company’s world class corporate days, events, and private parties, whilst also managing the partnership programme in the local community, helping make The Oxford Gun Company a warm and welcoming family destination.
Nicky is fully immersed in the countryside, with country sports and animals being her first passion. She's bred her own line of working dogs and has been picking-up on various estates since she could walk.
Nothing is too big or too small for Nicky to take on - the shooting school certainly wouldn’t run in the same way without her!
Toby manages the air gun side of The Oxford Gun Company, as well as helping with the day-to-day running of the shop. With experience in many different types of shooting, Toby brings an all-round knowledge of the shooting world, with answers to most of your shooting needs, whether target, pest control, hunting or much more.
He has a passion for teaching youngsters, helping them into the shooting sport and into the outdoors - repeating what others did for him when he was a youngster himself! If you`d like to give air rifle shooting a go, or just have a general chat about our amazing sport, ask for Toby - he'd be more than happy to help!
Geoff has been part of The Oxford Gun Company Team for over 15 years, and has over 30 years’ experience shooting clays and grouse.
Teaching beginners is his forte, but intermediate and experienced shots can also learn a lot from his expert tuition.
He's in high demand as an instructor, so book in advance if you want to benefit from his expertise!
Keith joined the Oxford Gun Company in 2021 on a part-time basis, alongside working at two other prestigious shooting grounds. He has been shooting for many years and is a passionate supporter of country sports, with a particular love for fishing and ferreting. He is a qualified APSI instructor, a GWCT-accredited game shot, a CPSA referee, and a LANTRA-qualified loader for both single and double guns. Keith takes great pride in helping new and developing shooters take their first steps and progress on their shooting journey. He also has an "eclectic" sense of humour, to make those lessons and Have-a-Go`s that much more enjoyable
Josh Grieve joined the team as a Groundsman in July 2025 and has quickly become a valued member of the business. With a strong passion for the outdoors, developed during his time in the Army, Josh brings dedication, practical skills, and a hardworking attitude to his role. He has supported game keepers on game shoots and takes great pride in maintaining high standards in all aspects of his work. An enthusiastic shooter, Josh first learned to shoot whilst serving in the Army and continues to enjoy clay shooting every other weekend. He is also part of a game syndicate, further reflecting his keen interest in the countryside and field sports. Alongside his outdoor pursuits, Josh has a strong interest in mechanics and enjoys working on machinery. Outside of work, much of his spare time is spent with his dogs, including a gundog, combining his love of animals with his passion for country life.
Josh is an integral part of the team and plays a key role in keeping the grounds running smoothly. His reliability, attention to detail, and willingness to help wherever needed make him a vital cog in a well-oiled machine; without him, an important part of the business's day-to-day operation would be missing.
With over 20 years of game shooting experience, Josh has been involved in every aspect of the sport, from beating and picking up to standing on a peg, on everything from small local syndicates to renowned Scottish sporting estates. This breadth of experience enables him to offer practical, real-world advice to shooters of all abilities.
Josh is also an experienced clay shooter, with many years spent shooting a variety of disciplines. His understanding of shotgun fit, technique, cartridge selection, and target presentation allows him to help shooters improve their performance and choose equipment that suits their needs.
Josh also has extensive experience in pigeon shooting and wildfowling, with expertise in decoying, crop protection, hide building, foreshore shooting, big-bore shotguns, and home loading. His specialist knowledge provides valuable insight into equipment selection, ammunition performance, and shooting techniques. Alongside his shooting background, Josh has spent over 10 years training and working gun dogs, developing a deep understanding of working dogs both in training and in the field. Whether you're looking for advice on game shooting, clay shooting, pigeon shooting, wildfowling, gun dogs, cartridges, reloading, or selecting the right equipment, Josh is always happy to help you get the most from your time in the field.
In his spare time, Josh can often be found in the field with his trusted gun dog, Rowan, pursuing his passion for shooting and the countryside.
Shafeeq Viqar Ahmed, known as “Viq”, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to shooting instruction, with a lifelong passion for hunting, target shooting, and clay pigeon shooting. A confident, patient, and approachable coach, he is highly skilled at helping shooters of all abilities improve their technique whilst maintaining the highest standards of safety. His strong communication skills, combined with his respectful and tactful approach, create a supportive environment for both novice and experienced shooters.
Viq is a Certified CPSA Level 1 Instructor (June 2025), a Certified CPSA Safety Officer (September 2024), holds both Firearms and Shotgun Certificates, and is a Talent Pathway Coach in Shotgun for British Shooting. He has also worked at Holland & Holland and the West London Shooting School and completed the ISSF National Coaches Course (Shotgun) in 2022.
A highly accomplished competitive shooter, Viq represented India as a member of the National Team in 2015 and 2016 and has won medals at State, Zonal, and National levels across several disciplines, including Olympic Skeet. He has also played a significant role in the development of shooting sports, serving with the Telangana Rifle Association for over two decades and coaching young shooters from 2016 to 2022.
With extensive experience in both competition and coaching, alongside a passion for country sports including deer stalking and game shooting, Viq is a valuable asset whose knowledge, professionalism, and enthusiasm benefit every shooter he works with.
Call us the team on:
01844 238308
For all your corporate questions, hen, stag or party queries then please contact
Nicky directly on
01844 238308 or 07917 727232
