Honorary Livery Clothing of Hugh Soar, 1 October
Following a decision taken by the Bowyers' Court at its last meeting in July, the Company granted Mr Hugh Soar, a Freeman of the Company, with Honorary Livery Status on Tuesday 1 October in Bristol. We were very fortunate to be able to hold the Clothing and a luncheon in the splendid Clifton Club through Liveryman Dr John Manley who is a member of the club and was our host for the day. Prior to the Clothing ceremony, John took the opportunity to start proceedings with a fascinating insight into the Club, its architecture and its place in the City of Bristol. It was a very enjoyable occasion with some 10 Bowyers making the journey to join Hugh and Veronica Soar for this memorable day.
Hugh is a highly respected writer on traditional archery and has over the last three decades written numerous articles for archery publications as well several highly acclaimed books including Of Bowmen and Battles (2002), The Crooked Stick - a History of the Longbow (2004), Secrets of the English Warbow, The Romance of Archery, Straight and True and The Young at Archery. He was Honorary Secretary of the British Longbow Society, was instrumental in raising its membership during his tenure and remains n Honorary Life Member. He was responsible for starting the Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers and remains fully engaged in it. Hugh is a long time member of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries, a learned society dedicated to archery research of every possible kind, and for whom he was Honorary Secretary for eleven years. He is still a regular contributor to their annual Journal. His principal clubs are the Royal Toxophilite Society, the Herefordshire Bow Meeting Society and the Worcestershire Archery Society. It was in recognition of this exceptional contribution to bowmaking and archery that the Court unanimously decided to grant this rare and judiciously awarded honour.
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