Ron Parfitt was educated at Cranleigh School, before following the family tradition and studying dentistry at Guy’s Hospital, and later continuing his studies at Guy’s and London University to become a fully qualified doctor. During World War II, Parfitt served with the Royal Medical Corps. As a fencer, he was attached to the Salle Paul for much of his career and, both before and after the War, he represented England on many occasions. He won the British épée title in 1948 and 1950 and, in 1951, was a member of Salle Paul team that won the Amateur Fencing Association’s President’s Cup for the third year in succession. That same year he was runner-up to Bert Pelling in the British Épée Championship. Parfitt competed in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics with a tenth place in the individual épée in 1948 being his best result. Parfitt’s wife Daphne was also a leading fencer.
Great Britain