RICHARD WHITE
CO-FOUNDED BOW MAGAZINE IN 1995 WITH DAF WHITE, EDITOR 1995-2005
I was engaged as a freelance press and agency photographer in the 1970s and 1980s, when editors used anyone to bring back short stories from the field. Prior to Bow, for a short time I became the editor and publisher of News from the Centre at GNAS (the newsletter of what would become Archerygb). Bow was my way of trying to improve the image of archery with a contemporary looking, well-designed sports publication. Several had attempted to do so before in the UK but most had faded into obscurity with the exception of one: Ted Bradford’s The Glade. Although popular amongst traditionalists, The Glade never really tried to promote the sport amongst the general public and mainly supported the UK archery market. I saw an opportunity and asked a print outfit in Coventry and a marketing business to consider supporting me to reach people outside of archery and persuade them that playing with bows and arrows was worth trying.
In late 1994 I produced a ‘dummy’ magazine that became a template, used to persuade advertisers and my partners to see merit in the project. I took on the role of designer, editor, advertising manager and photographer whilst marketing and printing were taken care of by my partners, until they went their own way. We set our sights on getting the publication into high street newsagents such as WH Smiths. But the beginning was a nightmare. There was the enormous pressure of producing an initial run (2,000) in less than six weeks with the idea of launching it free at the 1995 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. On top of writing features, design, printing costs, venue hire and time constraints, there was a lot of research and investigation into expected sales, subscriptions and advertising. Fortunately, we managed it in time and it was a huge success.
Unfortunately, the initial enthusiasm and a slower than expected subscription takeup was not enough to persuade my two partners to carry on. I was left with the task of publishing Bow on my own, but superbly supported by my wife, Daf White.
The work gave me a chance to visit clubs across the UK and interview archers at all levels. In addition, I was able to travel to Europe and the USA where most of the serious advertising came from. It was a lot of hard work but it meant I could connect with the sport I loved. In early 1998, I decided to change the title to BOW International with the objective of reaching a readership across the globe. It was a success mainly due to a new updated design, which persuaded many of the big archery manufacturers in the USA and
Korea to promote heavily. The nightmare returned big time and, tragically, Daf succumbed to a long-term illness and died. Three years later, I sold Bow to Blaze Publishing in Leamington Spa.
I had many proud moments. Attending the 1999 World Outdoor Championships in Riom, France, where I was able to watch my son, Chris, win a bronze medal in the men’s team event. Being congratulated on the magazine by several of the world’s top archers and manufacturers at the ATA Archery Trade Show in Columbus, Ohio 2002. (I also received a rather nice bottle of Kentucky Bourbon that, sadly, did not last long). I got to interview many wonderful archers. The greatest satisfaction came when people went out of their way to show appreciation and thanks for the work that Daf and I were undertaking. Some found it hard to believe we could fit it all in, what with raising a family, shooting in tournaments and undertaking BOW, but we did and enjoyed meeting so many really lovely people in the sport.
Perhaps the biggest change over the years was the acceptance that sponsorship and financial rewards for the top archers became a reality.
The governing body in the UK still baulks at the idea of professional archery but it is no longer a bête noire. There has also been a concerted effort to improve facilities from club level all the way up to elite training for the Olympics. Coaching has improved dramatically at all levels. I’m also delighted to say that the sport has become far more popular and I believe that BOW International, past and present, has helped in this respect.
I’m still busy as an artist, photographer and occasional picture framer. For the past two years, I’ve become an author and written four books, with a fifth one planned and ready. One book that sees a return to archery is the amusing life story of Mick Deacon titled Seventy Years in the Bow.
Apart from that, I’m like everyone else, forced to stay out of trouble due to the pandemic. At least I can still write in relative comfort at home. Who knows, there may well be another archery themed book in the future.