The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Olympic Silver for Fencer Bill Hoskyns
Bill Hoskyns stays en garde for the local press
From the collection of:
Overview
Olympian and British fencing champion Bill Hoskyns has returned from the Olympic Games in Tokyo with an individual silver medal in the épée event. Hoskyns missed the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 but helped Britain to a team bronze at the 1955 World Championships. Overall he competed in six Olympic Games from Melbourne in 1956 to Montreal in 1976 and won épée team silver at the Rome Olympics in 1960. No other British fencer has medalled at the Olympics since.
Hoskyns was épée gold world champion in 1958 and at the Commonwealth Games won a total of nine gold medals in épée and sabre with a silver medal in foil. He won four épée titles, three foil titles and one sabre title at the British Championships taking a total of 21 medals and only the second man to take all three titles at once. Hoskyns’ fencing career began up at Oxford University where he showed little interest in his agricultural studies and so graduated with a Fourth Class degree. He joked that his children would never be able to better this because Oxford University had adopted the national numbering system for degrees and a Fourth was no longer possible.
Related
Watch for free
Flashing Blades Flashing Blades
Sport 1948 9 mins Silent
Tricky weather conditions cause some spills in the downhill and ski jumping at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St Moritz.
Watch for free
The Wheelchair Olympians The Wheelchair Olympians
Documentary 1983 25 mins Location: Cleckheaton
With the Paralympics even more marginalised than today, these athletes show great determination, dedication, camaraderie and humility.
Watch for free
Mining Review 22nd Year No. 1 Mining Review 22nd Year No. 1
1968 3 mins
We're off! Olympic training on the streets of Mansfield as local boy John Whetton prepares for the 1968 Mexico City games.
Watch for free
Women's Olympiad Women's Olympiad
Non-Fiction 1924 3 mins Silent Location: Fulham
British "girl athletes" prove themselves in competition with women from around the world at Stamford Bridge.
Watch for free
Diving and Swimming Diving and Swimming
1926 14 mins Silent
Special effects galore in this demonstration of fancy swimming and diving, featuring Olympic medallist Belle White.
Watch for free
Olga Olga
Sport 1973 54 mins
A rare insight into gymnast Olga Korbut's life at the height of her fame, showing the discipline it takes to be an Olympic champion.
Watch for free
Rien ne va plus at El Matador Rien ne va plus at El Matador
Current affairs 1962 4 mins Location: Taunton
Everything is going very well at El Matador Club where gambling forms part of a growing leisure activity.
Watch for free
Taunton College of Art Fashion Show Taunton College of Art Fashion Show
Current affairs 1975 2 mins Silent Location: Taunton
Students at the College of Art in Taunton hold an end of year fashion show with eye-catching futuristic designs.
Watch for free
One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred
Current affairs 1986 52 mins Location: Plymouth
This documentary charts the progress and challenges of disabled people living in the community.
Watch for free
Wassail Wear and Whimple Wassail Wear and Whimple
Current affairs 1975 2 mins Silent Location: Taunton
Wassail queens assemble at Taunton Castle before returning to their respective orchards.
Watch for free
Taunton Jazz Festival Taunton Jazz Festival
Current affairs 1962 12 mins Location: Taunton
Notable interviews are with some of the greatest jazz talent as music lovers gather to celebrate jazz, trad and free.
Watch for free
Da Vinci's Wingman Da Vinci's Wingman
Current affairs 1961 3 mins Silent Location: Taunton
An eccentric Englishman looks to achieve winged flight inspired by Leonardo
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.