Olga Jekyll

Olga Jekyll
QSM
Personal information
Birth nameOlga May MacPherson
Born(1918-10-08)8 October 1918
Died11 February 2014(2014-02-11) (aged 95)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Spouse
Allan Joseph Jekyll
​
​
(m. 1946; died 1948)​
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportFencing
ClubUnited Fencing Club
Achievements and titles
National finalsFoil champion (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1959)

Olga May Jekyll QSM (née MacPherson, 8 October 1918 – 11 February 2014) was a New Zealand fencer, who represented her country at the 1950 British Empire Games.

Fencing

Born Olga May MacPherson on 8 October 1918,[1] Jekyll competed in her first fencing tournament in 1938.[2] She went on to win 18 Canterbury championships,[2] and five New Zealand national titles: in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1959.[3] At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, Jekyll represented New Zealand in the individual women's foil, recording three wins to finish in fifth place.[4][5]

Jekyll retired from competitive fencing in 1972, but continued her involvement in the sport as an administrator and coach, including at Avonside Girls' High School.[2][6] She was a founding member of the United Fencing Club in Christchurch in 1956.[2][7]

Personal life

After World War II, Jekyll married Allan Joseph Jekyll, but was widowed by his death in 1948.[8] The couple did not have children, and she never remarried.[6]

Honours and recognition

In the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jekyll was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.[9] She was also a life member of the New Zealand Amateur Fencing Association.[7]

Fencing Midsouth awards the Olga Jekyll Trophy annually, and organises an Olga Jekyll mixed teams event.[10][11]

Later life and death

As a result of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Jekyll was forced to move from her home.[7] She died in Christchurch on 11 February 2014.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Death search: registration number 2014/3829". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fencing veteran sticks with her sport 60 years on". The Press. 23 June 1998. p. 2.
  3. ^ "New Zealand fencing champions" (PDF). teara.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Olga Jekyll". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Results for the 1950 British Empire Games – fencing – foil individual – women". Commonwealth Games Federation. 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Nothing foils fencing's biggest fan". The Press. 20 September 2001. p. 38.
  7. ^ a b c "Olga Jekyll". Fencing New Zealand. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Death search: registration number 1948/27342". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  9. ^ "No. 49010". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 12 June 1982. p. 41.
  10. ^ "Fencing Mid-South trophies and awards – Olga Jekyll Trophy". www.fencingmidsouth.org.nz. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Fencing Mid-South Competitions – Olga Jekyll Foil Teams – 2016". www.fencingmidsouth.org.nz. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Olga Jekyll death". The Press. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.


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