Leonard “Len” Mowlam 1909-1994

Len Mowlam was one of the last of the pre-war generation of British international fencers.

An excellent foilist and epeeist, he was runner-up in the Junior Epee Championship in 1930 and went on to represent Great Britain at the European Championships in 1931. Two years later he was runner-up in the Junior Foil Championship and in 1935 fenced both foil and epee at the European Championships in Lausanne.

Always a gentleman on or off the piste, Len shared the excitement and intellectual challenge of swordplay with others. With infectious enthusiasm he recruited many young followers and founded Lloyds Bank Fencing Club for them. Under his Presidency the club flourished for over half a century.

A long-standing member of the London Fencing club, he fenced for the RAF in Ireland and took part in Epee Club pools throughout his lifetime.

In the wider field, Len served the cause of British fencing with distinction as Assistant Secretary to the Foil Sub-Committee for many years and as Secretary to the AFA Committee from 1970 to 1972. Before the war his house was virtually the AFA 's first headquarters.

Much later in life, when other fencers hang up their swords, Len mastered the art of sabre and on his 70th birthday demonstrated his newly acquired skill in the illuminated grounds of his country home by taking a brilliant sabre lesson followed by a friendly bout with his master, which he won.

Len will live on in the hearts of family and friends, his achievements in his favourite sport are recorded in the history of British fencing.

Akos Moldovanyi