Our club, Bracken is located on the eastern edge of Dorset near the border with Hampshire at Cranborne. The official name for the club is The Bracken Company of Archers which came into being in 1976 when Ferndown Archery Club changed its name.

The origins of Ferndown Archery Club can be traced back to 1968 when it was the archery section of Ferndown Sports Club. Members used the Ferndown Middle School's playing fields for its sporting ground until 1976 when it was decided to move to Bowyer's Croft, Mannington.

It was here that Lew Smith had his bowyer's workshop and the club was fortunate enough to have the use of an adjoining field; however as the club had moved out of Ferndown it was deemed appropriate to change the club's name.

The club made its home at Bowyer's Croft until 1982 when it moved to Three Legged Cross where it remained for the next 24 years.

Lew and Doreen Smith

Lew and Doreen Smith were founder members of Ferndown Archery Club in 1968. They were active members, continuing to support the club in its many sporting and social activities. Sadly we lost Lew in 1980 and an annual inter club tournament was held in his memory until 2006, when it was changed to the Absent Friends memorial shoot. Doreen passed away in 2007.

Other long time members of the club include Jean Harrison (our former Club Secretary), Mike Grigsby, Griff Jones and Bob Cox - all of whom have been members of the club for at least 25 years.