Arnold Pienne 1909-1987

Arnold Ernest Gray Pienne was the only son of Arnold Jean Francis Pienne and a fourth generation artist. He was educated at Wycombe Royal Grammar School, gaining the bronze medal and silver medals of the Royal Drawing Society in 1922 and 1924 respectively. In 1932 Arnold was awarded the Silver Medal (Armitage) of the Royal Academy Schools (School of Painting). It was at this time that he took up fencing and at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1932 was placed 11th in the British Epee Championship. Arnold was to appear from then on a number of times in the Epee Championship and International Epee Competition finals, his best World Championship result being the semi-finals in Paris in 1937. It was as a school girl that I first remember seeing Arnold at the Ladies' Foil Championship where he escorted one of the finalist competitors, but it wasn't until Joan Shipston and I joined the Lansdowne Club that we became friends with Arnold. Arnold was kind to beginners and was always willing to help me improve a stroke. He was a great raconteur.

In 1953 Arnold and Joan married and, when their two daughters left school, they returned to London, Joan becoming the Secretary of the AFA and Arnold joining the LTFC. He became ill but as soon as possible he returned to fence in the Salle and continued to fence until his final illness in 1987.

Mary Glen Haig