I quite liked writing this article – it always helps when you have an interest in the subject matter – and I do hope that they set up a second group in Dingwall. Due to the constraints of space it was massively cut back from the original submission.

I first picked up a sword in the late 1980s and loved it. Of course that was modern fencing and I later learned of the art of historical fencing when I watched a display by the Dawn Duellists at Whitby Abbey in the year 2000.

Imagine my surprise to learn that there is a historical fencing group in the Highlands and they are planning to set up the new group near Inverness so I might actually get a chance to explore a bit of history.

A WESTER Ross group which practises the art of historical fencing is hoping to set up a new group in the east.

Organisers have set up a one-day course this weekend which will provide an introduction to oriental sword combat – with a Highland perspective. 

It will be held at Maryburgh Amenity Centre between 10am and 5.30pm on Sunday, April 24. Mick Skelly, from Historical European Martial Arts Highlands (HEMAH), will lead the course and he said they were hoping to create a group for Dingwall and Inverness next year.

The 70-year-old, who has a background in Eastern martial arts, is part of the group currently based in Ullapool.

He said: “Although we are possibly the smallest and almost certainly the northernmost HEMAH group in the UK we do ‘fence above our weight’ in terms of competition on the Scottish HEMAH circuit. Above all it is great fun.”

Anyone interested should contact Ali Cameron, of the Cameron School of Martial Arts, who has organised the course on 07810 000946.

Anyone who is interested in HEMAH should contact Mr Skelly either via email at mick.skelly@outlook.com on 07443 604693. He asks for no text messages.

From the Ross-shire Journal on Friday, April 22, 2022.