RAYMOND PAUL (1928-2013)

Raymond Paul, who has died at the age of 84, was the most consistently successful British Men’s Foilist of the 1950s, becoming champion four times and runner-up five times in the years 1951-59. He represented GB at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, coming 8^th in 1956, and at the 1950 and 1957 World Championships. In 1957 he was runner-up in the Duval international foil tournament in Paris. Commonwealth foil champion in 1958, he was also three times winner of the Coronation Cup international foil tournament.

Raymond and his elder brother René (five times British champion), sons of the legendary Leon Paul, dominated the post-war foil scene. In 1957, after Raymond had won the British Championships for the third time, Feré Rentoul reported in The Sword, “Raymond’s direct attacks are well-nigh impossible to parry.  His reactions are incredibly quick and his accuracy in hitting the target is probably at its best.”

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.