Kindly written by Alison Melville
In April, after a long battle with cancer, Mandy died peacefully at home. She was a great servant of Scottish Fencing turning her excellent administration skills to running competitions both at youth and senior level and chaperoning youngsters to events in Britain and abroad – even to New Zealand for the Youth Commonwealth Games!
Mandy Kettles, grinning broadly, being presented with a bunch of flowers as DT at the Stirling Sword
I first crossed swords with Mandy Drummond, as she was then, when she started fencing in the early 1990’s at Stirling Fencing Club. Although initially a foilist her forte was sabre. However, she was not adverse to new experiences as shown when in October 1998 she participated in the Central Section Championships finishing 2nd in the Foil, and winning both Sabre and Epée. This was a good time for Mandy’s fencing; winning both Intermediate Foil and Sabre in season 1997-98 and the Sabre titles in both the Scottish Open and Edinburgh Open in 1998.
She was already showing her organisational skills by this time both in helping to run the Scottish Novices at Alloa Sports Centre and reporting on the event in “The Point”. This venue was also convenient because it was close enough for her cat Jerry to visit and check all was going according to plan.
Mandy became more involved in running competitions when her son Calum started fencing. After showing her prowess with the Development Series she became more involved in running Youth events then branched out to running DT at the Scottish Open. I renewed my acquaintance running competitions with Mandy more recently when I was “persuaded” to help at the Scottish Open while in return she worked with me at the Stirling Sword. We quickly fell into our old routines and with both of us having similar views on how to organise events and similar senses of humour it was a joy to work alongside her. She was always so professional and organised. It is amazing how easy a task is when you do hours of preparation beforehand!
Throughout the years I knew Mandy, as Drummond then as Kettles, I always enjoyed fencing her - we had many a battle, both at foil and sabre! Even then she was organising – “come on you have to do at least 5 lunges in this fight …” or “do more attacking …” Her musical talent was also on display at the club with the Christmas mince pies being heralded into our salle by her playing the bagpipes. She was also an inspirational and organised music teacher.
Mandy had a very difficult time during 2024 losing both her husband, Andy, and her father while undergoing treatment. However that did not stop her running competitions and she became a familiar sight on her scooter. She was so determined and upbeat no matter what set- backs or new treatments were thrown at her. The terrible news of her death was so unexpected.
Although Scottish Fencing and all Mandy’s friends are poorer with her passing I know my own life is much richer because of our friendship. Our thoughts are with her children Calum and Eilidh, her niece Clair and her mum Janice at this sad time.
