Fencing in Bristol

Further Info

This story was made on a five-day training workshop for staff from the City Museum and Industrial Museum, who aim to become digital storytelling workshop facilitators, led by Dani Landau, Liz Milner and Alison Farrar.

The course took place during Aug 2005 at the City Museum and Art Gallery and was supported by Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives.

Transcript

I’ve recently moved to Bristol after getting a job at the City Museum and Art Gallery. I had settled in and decided to get back into fencing, a sport I love and I hadn’t done for several months. The club is at the Redland High girls’ school. It isn’t all St Trinions but it is quite grand - so grand it feels like I’m in a swashbuckling film.

I was a bit nervous as I didn’t know anyone. However everyone was really friendly and I soon found someone to fence.

[Sound of fencing foils clashing]

Before we started I noticed he had rather a strange stance: he would crouch low and then jump at me. With this awkward style we started. There was a flurry of movement and he hit me.

[Beep of electrical judging apparatus signalling a hit]

I got the odd point, but he won.

I was disheartened but carried on. The next opponent had a less unusual style and I hit him square on the knee, but nothing. I lost the fight also and started making excuses, to them and to myself: I was rusty, it was a flat hit, it was off target…

It then occurred to me: dodgy electrics! It just goes to show you should check, and then believe in yourself.

[Sound of fencing foils clashing and beep of electrical judging apparatus]

Credits

All media not otherwise credited created by the story author, or permission obtained, used under copyright licence.