Magical talk hits the target in Birkenhead

IMAGE: L-R Jason Powell, Robert Hardy, Graham Higgs, Mike O’Sullivan (image © Helen O’Sullivan)

Our customer The Longbow Shop at Price Street Business Centre in Birkenhead hosted a sell-out event with actor, Robert Hardy CBE, to mark the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt.

Although known for his roles as vet Siegfried Farnon in the TV series All Creatures and Small or as Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic in the Harry Potter films, Robert is also a lifelong enthusiast and expert of the longbow and has written several books about the weapon.

He is a patron of the Battlefields Trust and was also a consultant during the raising of the Mary Rose, the Tudor warship. During the exercise, more than 6,000 steel-tipped arrows were discovered as well as 138 longbows which he kept at home under strict security.

He explains: “The longbow was the super weapon of its day. It has been my life’s study since at the age of six I discovered two bows in an attic and was fascinated by them.”

Insightful stories

The Longbow Shop founder, Jason Powell, runs the company with fellow directors, Graham Higgs and Mike O’Sullivan, all of whom are longbow archers. They were delighted to invite the renowned actor to share his insightful knowledge and experience about longbows and the battles they were used in.

Jason says: “Mr Hardy gave insights into his time as the only person allowed to care for and study the longbows from The Mary Rose, renovating them over many years and also about his time as a special advisor to English Heritage on their battle sites.

“We were also treated with anecdotes from his TV and film career and the whole day was delivered with lashings of humour, wit and charm forever fuelled with a never-ending passion and a twinkle in his eye.”

“The queue for the book signing at the end of the day was fantastic. I think everyone would agree Mr Hardy was a total joy to be with and the time went very quickly indeed. As a director of the shop I feel very grateful for the opportunity to meet him and hear him talking about his lifelong love of the longbow. Why this man is not knighted is beyond me – he has certainly earned it!”

The Longbow Shop is the UK’s largest traditional archery shop and has been based at our Price Street Business Centre for more than four years. In that time it has more than doubled the size of its business unit and now features a shooting range where customers can try out bows and arrows before they buy.

About Price Street

Based in the commercial district of Birkenhead, our Price Street Business Centre offers business space in a prime location for Wirral companies. Offices, workshops or industrial units are available in a range of sizes and with 24-hour access. Security and free car parking facilities are available at the site, plus there is a café, pool hall and gym on the premises, as well as a meeting room available for hire.

For more information contact Business Centre Manager Neil Williamson on 0151 670 1553.