Albert Edward "Bert" Pelling 1903 - 1977

The death of Bert Pelling on 27 April was a sad blow to all who knew him. He was a classic épéeist of the old school, having been trained by McPherson and Morel. A founder-member of the Grosvenor FC and the All-England FC, he won the épée championship three times and in 1934 was the first fencer to win this title two years in succession. He first attained international rank in 1928 at Amsterdam, and subsequently represented Great Britain in the Olympic Games in 1936 at Berlin and 1948 at London. He was a member of the British épée team in the European Championships in 1930 at Liége when Great Britain was placed fifth, 1935 at Lausanne when we reached the semi-finals and 1937 at Paris when again we reached the semi-finals.

From 1935 on he served on the AFA Committee, and was always ready to help and encourage young fencers - particularly at Grosvenor and Polytechnic. He also helped many of our senior lady internationals with their training when they were young fencers at the Ladies' Polytechnic. In 1973 he was awarded the AFA silver medal for his services to fencing. 

In 1965 Bert had a coronary thrombosis. He had been fencing at Grosvenor and after a bout with Peter Jacobs he suddenly felt unwell. His son, John, was there and immediately telephoned for an ambulance; Bert was in Westminster Hospital within minutes. At one stage his heart stopped beating but the doctors persevered and he survived. He was advised to give up fencing, but he could not be kept from the salle for long, and when he had recovered sufficiently he was back with his old enthusiasm and eventually started coaching again.

In 1968 he retired and moved to Christchurch. He gave up his AFA commitments and joined the Espada FC at Bournemouth. He became their official épée coach and armourer and quickly won their love and affection. In 1976 Linden Sporting Club elected him their Sportsman of the Year for his services to fencing.

My fondest memories of Bert were during the summer months in the late 20s and early 30s when we used to fence on Sunday mornings at Mowlem's yard on the site of the old Millbank prison. This provided valuable training, as the épée competitions were held in the open air at Lincoln's Inn. After lunch they would come back to my house at Wimbledon and we would hold a continuous chemin de fer in the garden until dusk. It says much for Bert Pelling that he was still able to create in young fencers of today that special kind of enthusiasm and bond of friendship that he created in me half a century ago.

Brian Speight of Espada said of Bert Pelling, 'As a person he was admired and loved; as a fencer and coach his interest and enthusiasm was infectious, and the example he set us all was to be envied.' I cannot think of a better epitaph.

Len Mowlam