Shooter Ray goes out with a bang as friends and family take aim at ashes

He wanted his ashes packing into clay pigeons - and for his family to fire at them in his honour.

And when the 63-year-old father of three died following a two-year battle with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, they knew they had to carry out his dying wish.

Mr Probert's daughter Cassie, together with her mother Jill, 62, brother Bruce, 33 and sister Amy, set out on a mission to make his unconventional dream become a reality.

They contacted Oakedge Shooting Ground in Wolseley Bridge, Rugeley, which got behind the family and helped give Mr Probert, who ran a gun shop, the send off he had wanted.

Bosses at the shooting venue helped organise a memorial shoot and his ashes were mixed with adhesive and placed into clay pigeon discs for the event.

A special trophy was also created for the memorial day, which was attended by 150 people, and was awarded to the Brett Hand who won the competition.

Mr Probert was well-known in clay pigeon shooting circles with hundreds turning out for his funeral - many of whom were dressed in camouflage.

Over the years he won many awards for shooting and was crowned Staffordshire County Sporting Champion, Cheshire County Sporting Champion, Shropshire Champion Winner and West Midlands Shooting Champion.

His family said the memorial was a great celebration of his life.

His daughter, Cassie Probert, aged 36, said: "We always knew dad wanted to be cremated so when he died we thought it would be a nice idea if we could carry out his last wish.

"We didn't know if it was possible because none of us have heard of this sort of thing happening before but the club were more than willing to help," she said.

"Dad's passion was shooting.

"He used to go to the club and was a member of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association and he taught people how to shoot.

"He went out every Sunday until he became poorly during the last eight to nine months of his life."

Mr Probert lived on the Pear Tree Estate in Rugeley and began shooting when he was just 12 years old.

He would often visit Cannock Chase armed with an air rifle with friends and later switched to using a shotgun.

Mr Probert, who was grandfather to four-year-old Maisy, was a member of the Staffordshire shooting team and in 1983 he opened Rugeley Guns and Tackle in Market Street.

Some of his ashes have been scattered at the shooting ground and on land at Hednesford Road in Rugeley where he used to offer clay pigeon shooting lessons.

"Dad previously worked as a lorry driver and at Lea Hall Colliery, but opening the shop was his dream come true," said Miss Probert.

"From the moment he took it on he said he never did a day's work because it was more of a hobby and he enjoyed running it so much.

"He said he would never close the shop until he was gone and he kept that promise."

The shop was sold on December 31 last year after his death.

More than 400 people packed out Stafford Crematorium to pay their respects to Mr Probert.

Mourners dressed in camouflage and a shotgun was placed on his coffin as the cortege drove past his former shop.

Miss Probert added: "Both the memorial shoot and the funeral were a celebration of my dad's life.

"Lots of his friends came along and my brother Bruce took a pot shot at one of the clays containing his ashes.

"It was the first time he had been shooting since our dad got ill.

"The club have been so supportive and said it's not something they have seen done before.

"It was a lovely way to say goodbye," she added.

Oakedge Shooting Ground secretary Sue Connell, said the club will be holding a memorial event in memory of Mr Probert every year.

She added: "This is the first time we have done anything like this and we are going to make it an annual event every May from now on.

"Ray was a lovely man and he used to say that Oakedge was his favourite ground so it was a lovely way to remember him."