The Fletchers proudly hosted a reception at Farmers' and Fletchers' Hall in London on 25 November to congratulate the GB Paralympic archers on their achievements at the Tokyo Games.
Liverymen and Freemen were encouraged to bring guests to meet the Paralympians and learn more about the activities and charitable work of the livery. The Master of the Fletchers, Anne Curry, welcomed the guests, toasted the archers representing the squad for the occasion, Dave Phillips, Victoria Rumary, Hazel Chaisty, and Archery GB's Performance Director Tom Duggan, and outlined some of the activities of the Company.
Archery GB's Hilda Gibson described the invaluable and much appreciated support that the Fletchers' Trust gives to disabled archers at all levels in the form of training, equipment and encouragement.
Historian Hannes Kleineke later gave a hilarious account of arrow making, which must have been thriving long before the first documented record of the Fletchers' Company in 1371; arrows being a necessity for survival long before gold rings came into fashion! The Paralympians also described the iron discipline required in Tokyo to monitor and acclimatise them.
The Fletchers would like to thank everyone who attended the evening, and wish the Paralympic squad the very best of luck for their next international challenge at the World Championships in Dubai in February 2022.
Many thanks to John Leatherdale for this article and photo. Picture shows, left-right, Archery GB's Hilda Gibson, Paralympians Dave Phillips, Victoria Rumary, Hazel Chaisty, Master of the Fletchers, Anne Curry.
See how Archery GB and the Fletchers are working together on a four-year initiative here.
