Olga Jekyll

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.

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(s)
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)

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. "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. "Nothing foils fencing's biggest fan". The Press. 20 September 2001. p. 38.
  7. "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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