BRITAIN's oldest competitive fencer this month proved he can still hold his own against the youngsters — at the ripe old age of 92!

Dennis Willcock, of Tavistock, fenced foil, epee and sabre at the recent British Veterans' Fencing Championships in Gloucester.

Held over three days, the championships were open to all fencers over the age of 40 — but Dennis is in a club of one when it comes to the seniors. Of its more than 500 members, there are 30 aged 70 to 79, and five in their 80s.

Malcolm Fare, spokesman for British Veterans' Fencing said: 'Despite the inevitable loss of speed and strength as the years have passed, Dennis beat one man several decades younger in the sabre competition.'

And Dennis, who has been fencing for 64 years, has no intention of giving up the sport he loves.

'There's a strong social element to it, and it's also an ancient sport, with a romantic history to it, which I like,' he said.

Dennis first learned about fencing during the second world war, from a Frenchman, Prof Henri Faubert, who was the maitre d'armes at the Academy Saint Cyr in Paris.

Prof Faubert fought with British forces against the advancing German army, and was evacuated with them from Dunkirk.

Dennis met him while serving with the Birmingham Auxiliary Fire Service, and was enthralled by his stories of fencing.

'Fencing was compulsory for French officers in those days,' said Dennis.

'I asked him if he was going to go back to France after the war — but he said he was going to stay here and start a fencing club — I said join me up!'

Dennis continued fencing when he and his wife, Elsie, moved to Devon in 1967, when he lectured in engineering at the then Plymouth College of Technology — later to become Plymouth Polytechnic and ultimately, the University of Plymouth.

Joining Plymouth Fencing Club, he was proud to fence with such men as national coach Bob Anderson — who also played a part in movie history — choreographing the fight sequences for Darth Vader in the Star Wars films!

Dennis can even claim a world title among his honours.

He said: 'Veterans fight in age groups — 50-plus, 60-plus, 70-plus, but there was no 80-plus in 2006. I had to fight in the 70-plus — the chap I beat was 73 and I was 88 at the time!

'I formed a team of four and put our names forward for the world stage.

'But because there wasn't another team of four over 70, there was no-one to fight us, so I can claim to be British and world champion — by default!'

Dennis, who has fenced with Olympic medallists Kate Allenby and Heather Fell, still attends Plymouth Fencing Club every week — and enjoys cycling regularly to keep fit.

Sadly, his beloved wife Elsie died in November last year, after 70 years of happy marriage — but fencing has continued to absorb Dennis.

'It's been my lifeline,' he said.

As Malcolm Fare said: 'Generally, fencers keep going as long as their legs allow them to move up and down the piste.

'Several have had hip replacements and at least two have had double knee replacements to keep them mobile.

'Fencing is such a stimulating and satsifying sport that fencers will only stop when forced to.'