Major Roland M. P. "Willo" WILLOUGHBY, T.D. LL.D. 1870 - 1954

The death of Willoughby meant more to the British fencing world than the passing of an old friend who had been greatly liked. It was in truth, the close of an era; for he was the last survivor of that 'race of giants' who at the turn of the Century transformed British fencing from little more than a desultory pastime in a few isolated Clubs and Gymnasia into an organised sport.

Fifty-four years ago Willoughby was already of sufficient consequence in fencing circles to become one of the founder members of the Epée Club and the A.F.A., and having set his foot upon the path of Administration he kept it there. He was elected to the A.F.A. Committee in 1908 and remained a member of it the rest of his life; he was Honorary Treasurer of the A.F.A. from 1928 to 1937, and for a second time during the last War to fill an emergency; he was a Vice-president from1938. To these various duties he brought a mind to bear which had been trained in the Law and tempered by a whimsical turn of humour, and the many sidedness of his interests from drafting new Articles of Association to designing the Tudor Rose badge worn by British International fencers. 

But what was chiefly remarkable in Willo, of course, was his versatile prowess as a practical fencer. It is observable that the practice of les belles armes meant more to him than mere success in competitions; nevertheless, his success in competitions was considerable. Over a number of years he was a many-times International at all three weapons, ranging from Sabre at the 1908 Olympic Game to Foil and Epée at Monte Carlo in 1928, by which time he was 58 years of age! In individual competitions he won the Amateur Championship at foil, and on six other occasions was placed within the first three in the Championships at Foil, Sabre or Epée. Parallel with this career as a civilian, he had another career in the Royal Tournament, winning the Inter-Services foil Championship and Officers' Sabre Championship, and being runner-up in the Officers' Epée besides.

Fencing was Willoughby's great hobby, but Territorial soldiering—if anything to which he paid such serious attention can be called a hobby—was not far behind. To his lasting disappointment he was prevented through deafness from going to France with his Regiment, Queen Victoria's Rifles, in the First War; he had to be content with his good work as Second-in-Command of the Training Battalion at home.  

Another great interest with him was sailing; he belonged for many years to the Upper Thames Sailing Club, racing his dinghy at week-ends. He might miss an eliminating round at fencing to go sailing, but never a final.

As time went by, Willo had been coming less and less to fencing gatherings, and many of the Younger Generation may not even have known him. The middle-aged and more elderly amongst us, thinking of him in his prime, will remember him as modest in success, good-humoured as a loser, and a staunch and kind-hearted friend at all times.

L.V.F.