Henry William Furse HOSKYNS

A farmer who kept fruit orchards near the tiny Somerset village of North Perrott, Bill Hoskyns vies with his contemporary Allan Jay for the title of Britain’s greatest ever fencer. A veteran of a British record six Olympic Games between 1956 and 1976, he was the first British man to win a world title when he took the épée gold medal at the 1958 World Championships in Philadelphia. Hoskyns won four World Championship medals during his career. The first, bronze, came in the team foil discipline in 1955 whilst another bronze, this time as part of the British épée team, followed in 1957. His final world medal came in 1965 when he was beaten by Zoltán Nemere in the battle for gold.

Though not the speediest of fencers, he was known for his expert timing and, a rarity in modern times, competed in all six possible Olympic fencing events. He was only the second man to win British titles in foil, épée and sabre, after Edgar Seligman, and had a spectacular record of nine gold medals at the Commonwealth Games between 1958 and 1970. He competed in veterans’ events well into the 21st century. Hoskyns was educated at Eton and Oxford, and later served as a Major in the Army. He was awarded an MBE for his services to sport and served as vice-president of British Fencing. Throughout his fencing career, he balanced sport with managing his orchards at North Perrott Fruit Farm.