Tributes paid to Olympian and Commonwealth Games fencing medal winner Shirley Parker

Shirley Parker passed away at the age of 78, at her home in Burton Bradstock last weekend.

She represented Great Britain at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and the Tokyo games in 1964.

Shirley also won two medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1966, in Kingston Jamaica.

She won silver in the individual foil and gold in the team foil.

She also set up West Dorset Fencing Club in 2009, with members paying tributes to her and what she did for fencing in the area.

Her husband, David Parker, said she was always about promoting the club and others and never herself.

He said: “She was a very humble person. She didn’t have any enemies in the world. She enjoyed life to the full and the simple things in life and giving to others.

“She would never see bad in others. She was the perfect loser.

“Her first love was of course her family but of course close behind was the love of her sport.”

Chairman of West Dorset Fencing Club, Robert Muhl, said Shirley was an inspiration.

He said: “Shirley founded the West Dorset Fencing Club in 2009 and had such a massive impact on the sport in the area. We would not be fencing without her and the club still continues to this day because of her.

“We moved the club to the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester a year ago, and that’s where fencing continues to this day.”

Shirley along with fellow Olympians Bill Hoskyns and Alan Jay set up the club. The trio lived within a 20-mile radius and couldn’t believe there wasn’t a local fencing club.

She leaves behind her husband David, children Raymond and Shelly and grandchildren Ben, Elliot, Saskia and Freya.

Shirley’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church, Burton Bradstock, at 1pm on March 21. The coffin will be welcomed at the church by a guard of honour of foils.

Flowers are welcome and donations can be made to to Marie Curie or Cancer Research to A J Wakely and Sons, 91, East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LB.