John Hopton

John Hopton of the Highland Light Infantry (HLI) was the son of captain Dutton Hunt, a bodyguard to Queen Victoria. He took the name Hopton by Deed Poll on 1 May 1899, shortly after marrying his second wife Sybil Baskerville in 1899, whose maternal grandfather was called John Hopton.

Hopton represented England in the Elcho Shield at Bisley on 36 occasions. He was responsible for founding the Army Rifle Association (ARA) in 1893 and in 1900 presented the Hopton Challenge Cup, a Match Rifle event, to be contest annually at Bisley. He won it in its first year, and on four other occasions up to 1927. Hopton also won the ARA’s bronze jewel in both 1887 and 1888. He became a member of the Council of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in 1901 and later became a vice-president, and was also a vice-chairman, of the Amateur Rifle Association (ARA). Hopton captained the Army Eight from 1891-1907.

Hopton was educated at Harrow and then Sandhurst, from where he went into the HLI and served with them from 1897 to 1907. He retired with the rank of colonel, and was at the time the Chief Inspector of Small Arms. Hopton’s hobby was music and he composed many popular waltzes of the day. One of his most popular compositions was “Ceylon Whispers”, which was often played by bands at the Bisley Camp and, on one occasion, at Buckingham Palace. Hopton was appointed a director of the Royal Academy of Music in 1922.

Because of his love of match shooting on long-distance ranges, Hopton requested that, following his death, he be buried close to the 1500-yard firing point at the Canon Frome Rifle Range. The ground was specially consecrated by the Bishop of Hereford so his wish could be granted, and the Bishop also conducted the funeral service. Hopton had continued shooting competitively until the year before he died, when he was in his 75th year.