Shakespeare’s Swords Fencing Club
30 Years of Excellence
A Fencing Family
Our club values of Teamwork, Friendship and Community are reflected in how we look after our members and strive to create an environment where everyone is empowered achieve their potential.
At Shakespeare’s Swords we look to develop the whole person and give everyone the opportunity to develop their love of fencing as far as they wish.
Fencing is the Olympic Sport of sword fighting.
fencing develops the key mental skills of respect, self awareness, resilience and problem solving.
Coordination and timing are the core physical components.
This challenging combination of mental and physical skills makes fencing ideal for developing young people.
About Us
Based in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s Swords has been developing young people for over 30 years.
The club runs session for all ages and experience.
We pride ourselves in having a strong community and we encourage everyone to give fencing a go and see where it can take you.
Our Athletes
Below is a profile of some of our current athletes. We have a well earned reputation for producing many the countries best sabre fencers, please click on our hounours page to see the fencers who have earnt the honour of representing their country at international competition at Shakespeare’s Swords.
Barney Halliwell
Barney started fencing when he was 10, joining his elder brother and sister as fencing turned into a family sport.
After finishing his A levels in 2018 he took a year out to concentrate on his fencing full time, his hard work culminating in a quater final appearence at the Junnior World Cup in Plodiv in his final U20 season. In 2022 having made the Senior Team for the Europeans & World Championships, Barney ruptured his ACL and has been rehabing and making his way back to fencing over the past year.
Representataive Honours
Great Britain Senior Team - European & World Championships 2021/22
Great Britain Under 20 Team European & World Championships 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20
Notable Results:
Quarter Final, Plovdiv Junior World Cup 2020
2nd, Senior National Championships 2021
Sophia Potter
Sophia Potter
Sophia started fencing at the club aged 11, she continues the Shakespeare’s Sword tradition in developing some of the countries top female sabre fencers.
Having received her degree at university in the south east Sophia has spent the last few seasons training with the GBR senior team in London.
Representative Honours
Great Britain Senior Team - European & World Championships 2022/23
Great Britain Under 20 Team - European & World Championships 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20
Great Britain Under 17 Team - European & World Championships 2015/16, 2016/17
Our Coaches
David Kirby - Founder
David founded Shakepeares Swords in 1988 at K.E.S. Stratford he laid the foundations for a sabre club that would develop into one of the best in th U.K. producing many fencers who would go on to become international standard athletes. His pastoral and logistical skills gave him a formiddable skillset which enabled him to develop each individuals potential to its full.
David Kirby passed away in January 2021. David was an inspiration to many generations of fencers. His enthusiasm and drive guided the club for over 30 years, he will always be remembered for his warmth and commitment to his athletes.
Chris Buxton | Head Coach
Chris has been coaching since 2008 having been a Great Britain Fencer since 1996. Chris was a five time national champion and former British number one sabre fencer. He represented Great Britain at European & World Champioships.
As a coach, Chris initially worked at Truro Fencing Club where he helped develop the youth programme which included many fencers who went on to become the mainstays of the British senior sabre team. After spending 4 years coaching at the Guernsey Fencing Academy, where he again had fencers fencing for the national squads, Chris moved to Stratford with his family in September 2019 to take over as Head Coach. He is focussed on building on the foundations and continuing the culture of excellence at Shakespeare’s Swords.
Henry Talbot | Sabre Coach
Henry is a productof the Shakepspeare’s Swords fencing and coach education system, Henry’s no nonsense approach provides a strong foundation upon which Shakepseare’s young fencers can develop into mature young adults.
Conor Bateman | Sabre Coach
Conor joined Shakespeare’s Swords in 2019 and has become a core member of the coaching team. Conor’s enthusiasm combined with his dedication to his pupils create engaging sessions which combine enjoyment and improvement.