Queen Elizabeth, patron of British Fencing.

“ In this wonderful Platinum Jubilee Year it is worth remembering how Queen Elizabeth came to be patron of British Fencing;  it is a story that is closely linked with the Epée Club and if we would be bold enough, we could say that without the Epée Club this patronage may never have happened! 

Let me explain. The Epée Club was formed in 1900 by Charles Newton – Robinson who introduced épée as a sport into England. The Club had a number of founder members who were instrumental in arranging teams and competitions both at home and abroad. Remember that this was two years before the formation of the Amateur Fencing Association who, at the start, had no real interest in the épée as it considered foil to be the only sporting weapon. However, in 1906, Great Britain was invited to send an épée team to the Intercalated Olympic Games in Athens. The team that was selected – probably due to the influence of Lord Desborough – was made up almost entirely from members of the Epée Club. These were Charles Newton – Robinson, Cosmo Duff – Gordon, William Grenfell (Lord Desborough) and Edgar Seligman. The Games were held in the presence of King Edward VII amongst other heads of State. The King watched our Epée Team in action and was thrilled when our team only narrowly lost to the French in the final. The result was astonishing and was Great Britain’s first fencing Olympic Medal. 

The 1906 English epee team silver medallists (from left): Charles Newton-Robinson, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, Theodore Cooke (non-fencing captain), Lord Desborough and Edgar Seligman

Later that same year, during the Dinner following the Epée Club’s match against Oxford University, Lord Desborough announced that King Edward VII had bestowed his patronage upon the Amateur Fencing Association. This patronage survives to this day.   

Lawrence Burr OBE , Vice President”