James Chambers 1941 - 2012
James Chambers, who has died at the age of 71 after losing a valiant battle with cancer, was a formidable figure on and off the piste, who relished sharing his vast knowledge and experiences in the fields of fencing, history (especially military history), opera, ballet and the classics; his audience was never disappointed and invariably enthralled. My earliest memory of James was of seeing a tall distinguished-looking chap coming from the other end of the piste wielding his epee with a very distinctive style of an up-and-down motion that scared the living daylights out of me. Later in subsequent bouts with James which were a daunting prospect as he was invariably the victor, he had a unique mode of attack borrowed from foil in which he would perform a coupé lunge drawing an ill-judged parry and then reprising with a successful repetition of the attack executed with punishing alacrity.
Born into a legal family in Northern Ireland in 1941, James was educated at Harrow and Oxford where he read law at Christ Church, but never practiced the profession. In 1967, he joined the Lansdowne Club in London’s Mayfair and was a pupil of the late Professor Alfred Parkins, who had coached two home-grown world champions, Allan Jay and Bill Hoskyns. Subsequently, James became the lynchpin (and then captain) of the Lansdowne Fencing Club where everyone was always made to feel welcome.
He served as captain of the British epee squad and on both the British Olympic Committee and FIE Publicity Commission. James was a great supporter of Northern Ireland Fencing. He regularly took part in competitions there and for many years represented Northern Ireland at international level. During this period, which spanned the 1970s and 1980s, James regularly ranked in the top 20 epeeists in the country. He was also a member of an eminent group of fencers, the Epee Club, where he served as Secretary for eight years and Vice-President for an additional 14 years.
From 1994 to 1999, James was President of what was then the Amateur Fencing Association and oversaw a modernisation process in which he undertook a series of sweeping changes in the organisation that included a name-change to what it is today, the British Fencing Association.
Later in 2008, he returned to his old school, Harrow, as a fencing coach and masterminded their tremendous success at the Public Schools Championships in 2011. In addition, he held fencing beginner courses at the Lansdowne and many club members today cut their teeth in foil and epee in his classes, becoming firm friends in the process.
Off the piste, he was a natural storyteller who would captivate an audience of fellow fencers relaxing in the informal basement atmosphere of the Aqua Bar at the Lansdowne after their conversations de fer in the salle with a glass of good ordinary claret – a favourite tipple – within easy reach. Elsewhere, he lectured with great success and my wife and I were fortunate to attend a fascinating address of his last year at the English-Speaking Union in which he spoke eloquently and entertainingly on Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold.
James was a revered author with a series of books to his name: The Devil’s Horsemen, Genghis Khan, Palmerston – The People’s Darling and Charlotte and Leopold, just to name a few of his publications. He also worked in the media as a fencing commentator for EuroSport and TransWorld Sport, while also contributing to programmes on fencing and swordplay for the BBC.
James’ extensive reservoir of knowledge was always imparted with aplomb and good humour in which he engendered enlivening conversation as the accepted currency of exchange from those close to him with anecdotes, quotations and bons mots tossed back and forth like enchanted shuttlecocks. Fellow fencers will no doubt recall a number of memorable occasions where Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Wellington, Palmerston, Queen Victoria and other luminaries from the pages of history along with contemporary figures and events of note were discussed with that characteristic accent of his with its lilting baritone quality revealing a deeply held Ulster pedigree. The room always lit up when James entered, and his gracious vibrant presence energised all those around him. He will be sorely missed. James is survived by his wife, Josephine.
Nicholas Mackey