1940s and Early 1950s
Fencing Display – Early Days. J. Fethers and I. Lund
Early Days QLD Fencing. Denise O’Brien 13 Future Olympian L-R: L. Smith, C. Patterson, Neva Basing, Denise O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Chris Drake, Gus Kichna, Lexi Hamilton
Back Row L-R: Rob Stansen, Dario Loschiavo, Nihes Saxson, Claude Briggs, Ivan Lund, Hil Van Dijk, Geoff Wedgewood, Norm Booth, ??, Ralph Capponi. Middle Row L-R: Denny Fletcher, Hillary Pym, ??, ??, Catherine Pym, Betty Stokes, Ruth Barnes, ? Miathe, Gwen Pomeroy, Shirley (Tinkler) Sargeant, Mavis Wilson. Front Row L-R: Ivan Stokes, Charles Stanmore, John Fethers, Tedd Dean, A. Croll, Alan Jay, Julius Pollock, Eddis Lindton
Beryl Elliot and Sister (QLD Swords Club 1949)
L-R: ??, ??, Beryl Elliot, Geoff Wedgewood
Kuripla Hall West End Brisbane. Fencer on Right Beryl Elliot and Presiding Neville Brown
G Blade Members L-R: Laurie Smith, Lexie Hamilton, Charles Anderson, Michael O’Brien
- Back Row L-R: ??, Geoff Wedgewood, ??, Ray Strain, Lloyd Erwyn, ??, ??, Neville Brown, Laurie Smith, Michael O’Brien, ??, Norm Stevenson, Claude Briggs. Front Row L-R: Cliff Thackary, ? Ryan, Del Dunne, Eddis Lindton (NSW Referee), Edna Hastie, Beryl ?, ? Ryan.
QueenslanD fencers L-R: Dr. Raphael Ciliento, Dough Smith, Michael Sichel, Cyril Wypow Fron L-R: Chris Drake, Laurie Smith, ??
L-R: ??, H. Van Dijk, Edis Linton, Ivan Lund (Lunging), Arnold White
L-R: Van Dijk, ??, McCowage, ??, Lund, Linton
Failed Stop Hit
L-R: J. Pollack, I. Lund, T. Dean, J. Fethers, ??
L-R: Lund, Loschiavo, Ruth Barns, J. Pollack, Fethers, Dean, ??
Centuar Nurses Club Brisbane 1945-50 Tom Kaye Coach of Centuar Nurses & of the Apollo Institute.
Queensland Club Championship Shield. G Blades Captain Michael O’Brien 1949
Rod Steele congratulating John Fethers on a triple fencing champion win 1951 Brisbane
Queensland fencer Margaret O’Brien – 3rd sister of Maître Michael O’Brien’s three fencing sisters.
The O'Brien Academy of Fencing 
good pics for fencing
Am interested to know who you are ,especially if you have a fencing back ground
John Eddis Linton (always called Eddis) was my father. He passed away on 1 June 2007. He retained an interest in fencing all his life. Among his files I have a biography of Dr Finckh who was his first fencing coach, would you be interested in this. I am most eager to obtain copies of the photos shown of Dad on this website – could these be emailed to me please? Interestingly, Dad was chosen to present flowers to the winner of the epee in the Sydney Olympics. He also travelled to Melbourne in Nov 2006 for the 50th anniversary of the Melbourne Olympics in which he was involved as an official and also I believe on the board to decide outcomes of protests.
Thank you for this site, it’s great to see the history of Aust. fencing like this.
I am always happy to hear from those interested in the fencers and times gone by .If you have any relevant photos i would be happy to add them to the web site Take care Mike O’Brien
I worked with Ivan Lund in the Overseas dept of the Commonwealth Bank Sydney during the 50,s.I was saddened today to read of his death 1n 1992 when i began searching for old colleagues.I wanted to contact his wife Ethel.If you have any info that could help I would appreciate it.
Alan K
Just wondering if the Chris Drake in the photos is the same Chris Drake who taught me in the late 80’s in Sydney. Last I saw of him he had a handle bar moustache and a dislike of epee.
Great, hard coach with strong opinions.
I was taught by Chris Drake in Sydney, handle bar moustache, 3 piece suit, only ever removed his jacket while teaching. The photo looks like him.
Yes definately the Chris Drake ( the one and only ) you know I was a friend and coach to Chris through out his fencing career You can phone me re chris on 0738787782 Mike OBrien
Wow, a photo of my dad with Hil Van Dijk and Ivan Lund! Can I get a copy please?
Geoffrey McCowage
Geoffrey,I no longer have that photo which was lent to me by Ivan Lund who has passed away some years ago now You can however take it off my website if you wish My phone no. is 07-38787782 .I did not know Brian all that well as I trained overseas for most of my amateur career I fenced against your dad in 1955 Australian Champs .won by Ivan with myself runner -up If Joan Beck is still alive ,she would have many photos of those days Regards and take care Mike O’Brien
Please can you get me the name of the man who taught film stars fo fence. I think he lived in Canada very near the American Boarder.I think his name was Anderson
Eric? Is that you? From the stage fighting course? If so, please get in touch. Brenda N. Fencingcellist@gmail.com
My Dad was Norm Stevenson. He and Claude Briggs were great friends until Dad’s death in 1984. In fact, Claude was with Dad when he died at home of a heart attack. Claude was very close to the Wedgwood family. I also remember dinner parties with the Lund’s during the late 70s. My mum, Daphne also fenced, but I think that was when they started a fencing club at the Gold Coast. Mum is 94 years old now and has a photo of Dad in his fencing gear above her bed at the nursing home.
My mother was Betty Stokes née walker and my father was Ivan stokes. Mum won the Australian foil championship and was selected to represent Australia in 1950 at the Empire Games in NZ and then the 52 Olympics in Helsinki. She won bronze in NZ but made a decision not to compete at the olympics…my father was Victorian Sabre champion. My early childhood years were spent watching all the training taking place in the backyard of our Brighton home. Great memories!!