JOHN R MASON
5th May 1944 – 30th November 2025
John started fencing in the London area after college 1968 where he became a proficient foilist. The family moved to Trowbridge, Wiltshire in 1978 where John joined Bath Sword Club.
I first met John when I joined Bath Sword Club, which was, under John’s Chairmanship, one of the biggest fencing clubs in the UK. At that time, he was not a member of the NVA, the fore runner of British Veterans Fencing but joined in shortly after in 1991.
In his earlier days in the Veterans John was very busy running a successful business and was not able to take part in some overseas matches and tournaments but was an enthusiastic competitor at home events including the earlier matches with Germany and Russia in the UK. The early NVA events were held in the grounds of Beaumanor Hall in Leicestershire, the accommodation being in “the Huts”. John’s comments on the standard of accommodation were a cause of quite some hilarity and merriment.
He joined the NVA committee in which he served as a member without portfolio for a while before becoming more actively involved in committee work. He developed a website for the Veterans greatly improving communication. Further progress was made when he developed systems for entry to national Veteran’s events. John quietly continued to develop systems for use in the D.T. of Veterans Championships. When Veterans Championships were held in Gloucester results appeared on TV screens, again due to John’s determination to improve the experience of Veterans Fencing.
John became the Treasurer of the NVA and had a tight rein of finances although, it was well known within the committee that it was his wife Sonya who did the heavy book-keeping.
When the NVA committee decided that they should prepare to organise an FIE World Veterans Championships in Bath in 2006 John, who was at time NVA treasurer commented that “we were all mad”. He then threw himself, with usual thoroughness, into preparing detailed project plans to ensure that the outcome would be a success. Of course it was, and due in no small part to John’s work, the NVA received plaudits from the FIE and from Fencers around the world.
In 2016 the BVF organised the European Team Championships and again John was heavily involved with responsibility for project management and treasury. Again, the event was a success and BVF received many compliments.
About this time John started to develop systems for European Veterans Fencing including data collection to develop a European Veterans Fencing ranking list. John was elected to the Board of European Veterans Fencing as database manager where he continued to the databases and Ranking systems. After he retired, he selflessly continued to help out with data input and development. John was made a member of Honour of European Veterans fencing an award of which he was extremely proud.
As many of you know John did not enjoy the best of health. His symptoms were first noted in 1997 but remained unproperly diagnosed for several years. Undaunted he carried on fencing, mainly at Epee, but occasionally at foil. His comments while struggling on the piste were always fun. At an event in Bristol, he halted a bout loudly claiming that “Sweeney has a target that blots out the sun and I still can’t hit it”. As his symptoms developed further John, determined not to give up the sport he loved, was often seen at his club in Bath, standing with the aid of a walking stick, and Epee in his hand, doing his best to defeat able bodied opponents.
John was finally forced to use a mobility scooter to get around and it was a very rash person indeed who did not stand aside as he sped by, during fencing events in pursuit of his DT duties or to watch a particularly interesting bout.
John was a true gentleman, prepared to help anybody to the best of his ability. He had a keen but quiet sense of humour and a fine line in witty one liners. His personality earned him many friends in the fencing community.
John had an uncanny ability to pick the worst item on any restaurant menu. At social functions everyone waited until John had made his selection, before ordering to make sure that they did not make the same choice.
Latterly although he was not as mobile as he would have wished, he carried on maintaining and helping to redesign websites and systems for both British and European Veterans Fencing. Despite his health problems John maintained his wit and sense of humour throughout.
He developed other interests including learning Italian and painting. He once said that he was able to “knock out a masterpiece every week”.
He also became involved with the UK Help Group for Heredity Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). He served on two committees of the organisation, membership and website and used the skills developed for Veterans Fencing to help others with the condition.
As said previously John was a true gentleman treated everyone with respect and kindness.
John died peacefully in Royal University Hospital Bath, in the early hours of Sunday 30th November, with his family around him.
He leaves behind his wife Sonya, his son Nik and daughters Jo and Bec as well as six grandchildren.
John loved the sport of Fencing, was devoted to Veterans Fencing and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
David Sweeney
Images: Gillian Aghajan
