A FATHER who tragically lost his son in a car crash is holding a clay pigeon shoot in his memory.
Gary Wantling, of Bwlch-gwyn, lost his son James, 25, in May. He is now busy organising the shoot and will be donating the cash raised to Nightingale House Hospice.
'We felt we had to do something. James brought so much pleasure to people's lives and we felt we had to give something back,' said Gary.
James was a talented driver who loved motor sports and was ranked 8th in the world when he raced in the Legends race at San Francisco.
He also enjoyed shooting and Gary is hoping to get as many of his shooting friends as possible to attend the event.
He said: 'James was special to everyone. He always had time for people. For a 25-year-old lad, he was incredibly caring.'
Sadly, Gary had lost his wife Maria to cancer just three months earlier. Before she passed away, Maria asked to spend her last days at Nightingale House.
Gary said: 'My perception of charity had been zero. I used to get fed up walking past people in the street rattling collecting tins at me. But I'm now in debt to Nightingale House.
'All the staff are fantastic, it's a wonderful place. No one has a miserable face, they always seem to have a smile - I hold my hat off to them.'
The James Wantling Memorial and Nightingale House Charity Clay Shoot will take place on Saturday, August 27 at Llandegla Shooting Ground. The event will start at 11am, with the last entry at 2.30pm. There will be a 100 Bird Open Sporting Layout, a 50 Bird Novice DTL Re-Entry and for beginners there is a 15 Bird Novice DTL Re-Entry, with fantastic prizes to be won.
Gary will also be presenting trophies to the winners, and is hoping to make the shoot an annual event in memory of James.
For further details contact: Louise Elliott, Nightingale House Hospice, Chester Road, Wrexham Ll11 2SJ. Telephone 01978 314292 or e-mail louise.elliott@nightingaleappeal.co.uk
