Sonia Tries Her Hand with the Frome Town Archers
- Daisy Steel
- Nov 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
There’s a quiet steadiness to archery. The hush before the draw, the stretch of the string, the brief moment when focus takes over. That was the scene as Sonia stepped onto the range at the Frome Town Archers, ready to learn from the people who have built this club into one of the friendliest and most knowledgeable in the area.
Meeting the Makers: Bryan, Stuart and Ian
Sonia was introduced to the club by Bryan Joyce, founder of the Frome Town Archers. Bryan set up the club in 2007 and has seen it grow from a handful of enthusiasts to a thriving community offering everything from traditional longbows to modern recurve shooting.
Alongside Bryan were long-standing members Stuart Jenkinson and Ian Tucker, both of whom guided Sonia through her first steps with a bow. Before she even raised an arrow though, they tested her eye dominance - a surprisingly important detail that decides how you aim.
Within minutes, Sonia had a recurve bow in hand, feet planted, shoulders relaxed. Her first shot flew cleanly down the range. A very respectable debut. Want to listen to the full interview on Spotify?
The Craft of the Bow
Ian then opened up a whole new world of detail, talking Sonia through the beauty and craftsmanship behind each bow. From the elegant simplicity of the English longbow, shaped from layers of sapwood and heartwood, to the curved precision of the modern recurve, every bow carries centuries of evolution.
Sonia handled both, feeling the curve, the grain, the subtle differences in weight and tension.
Technique, Targets and Tiny Triumphs
With guidance from Stuart, Sonia moved through the basics: grip, anchor point, breathe, release. Archery isn’t about strength. It’s about calm repetition. As she grew more confident, her arrows began to land consistently, and the targets became gradually more challenging. Each small improvement earned a little cheer from across the range.
A Club Built on Community
Frome Town Archers welcomes all ages and abilities, including disabled archers who are fully supported in taking up the sport. One club member, Mike, told Sonia how joining had opened up a new hobby and a sense of belonging.
Membership sits at £139 a year, with a five-session beginners’ course available for £50. Archers can come to the range throughout the year and choose between several shooting styles.
Seasonal Events and Friendly Competition
The club also runs a full programme of events. The winter Frostbite competition has been underway since October, giving members a crisp, cold-weather challenge that keeps skills sharp right through to spring.
From Medieval Mandates to Modern Day Frome
Archery has deep roots in Frome. The town once had official “butts” - grassy embankments required by law for practising longbow shooting. These were essential training grounds in medieval England, and the tradition survives in one of Frome’s street names today: The Butts. The name is a nod to those very practice mounds where townsfolk were expected to hone their aim centuries ago.
It’s a lovely thread of history running through the town, linking past and present. And now, thanks to Bryan and the club, Frome has its own modern version of that ancient tradition.
Taking Aim at Something New
Sonia left the range with a handful of good shots and a new appreciation for the craftsmanship, technique and camaraderie that define this sport. Frome Town Archers isn’t just a shooting range. It’s a community keeping an ancient skill alive - with warmth, humour, and plenty of encouragement for anyone brave enough to try their first arrow.
If you’ve ever wondered whether archery might be for you, this club could be the perfect place to find out.
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