Olga Jekyll Explained

Olga Jekyll
Birth Name:Olga May MacPherson
Birth Date:8 October 1918
Death Place:Christchurch, New Zealand
Country:New Zealand
Sport:Fencing
Club:United Fencing Club
Nationals:Foil champion (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1959)

Olga May Jekyll (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. 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.[9] [10]

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.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Death search: registration number 2014/3829 . Births, deaths & marriages online . Department of Internal Affairs . 7 September 2017.
  2. News: Fencing veteran sticks with her sport 60 years on . 23 June 1998 . . 2.
  3. Web site: New Zealand fencing champions . teara.govt.nz . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . 7 September 2017.
  4. Web site: Olga Jekyll . 2016 . New Zealand Olympic Committee . 7 September 2017.
  5. Web site: Results for the 1950 British Empire Games – fencing – foil individual – women . 2014 . Commonwealth Games Federation . 7 September 2017.
  6. News: Nothing foils fencing's biggest fan . 20 September 2001 . . 38.
  7. Web site: Olga Jekyll . 14 February 2014 . Fencing New Zealand . 7 September 2017.
  8. Web site: Death search: registration number 1948/27342 . Births, deaths & marriages online . Department of Internal Affairs . 7 September 2017.
  9. Web site: Fencing Mid-South trophies and awards – Olga Jekyll Trophy. www.fencingmidsouth.org.nz. 7 September 2017.
  10. Web site: Fencing Mid-South Competitions – Olga Jekyll Foil Teams – 2016. www.fencingmidsouth.org.nz. 7 September 2017.
  11. News: Olga Jekyll death . 15 February 2014 . . 7 September 2017.