Information sought on Paisley Archery Club

I am currently researching the history behind the various silver arrows used as prizes in archery competitions in Scotland during the past 4 centuries. This started off as a winter project a couple of years ago.

I have a list of 22 known silver arrows of which two are definately 'missing' those of Kelso and Stirling with a question mark over the whereabouts of the Paisley Silver Arrow. Another arrow was never used as an archery prize but as a rifle-shooting prize for the Trades apprentices in Kirkcudbright!

I have had tremendous help from the Principal Curator at NMS, the Curator at Peebles and a host of other people once I have explained the bones of the subject.

So now I am looking for the origins of the reformed Paisley Archery Club. In 1966, PC George Walker held a meeting in the YMCA in Paisley with the aim of forming an archery club-but nothing further established.

The club did reform and were affiliated to SAA from when? to 1987/88 when they had 10 members.

The most proficient archer was Bob McAusland who was Scottish Champion (SAA) several times and a member of the British Olympic team. Sadly he contracted ME and was lost to the sport of archery.

The original club, 1858 - 1910 was presented with a silver arrow and a silver hunting horn in 1858. In time, 13 medals of winners were added and placed in a mahogany case with an engraved plate showing the winners names.

When the club ceased to exist, the trustees placed the artefacts on display in the Paisley Museum with the proviso that should the Club reform, these prizes would be handed to 'responsible officers' of the new club, and if that club subsequently closed, the prizes were to be returned to the Paisley Museum for display.

In 1978,these prizes were returned to the new Paisly Archery Club ‐ no record of the names seems to exist. So at this time the whereabouts of the trophies is unknown ‐ maybe Australia!!

Please email Bob Halpin with any information