We are a small team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. We look forward to working with you.
Mike Cleary
Club Coach, Club Chairman, Club Administrator, Club Covid 19 Officer
Mike is a qualified coach in both Foil and Epee, teaching both weapons in school and club sessions around Bristol. Starting to coach while at University in Plymouth, Mike was selected to coach the England Foil team at the UK School Games in 2015 and 2017. He has travelled abroad with the England U15 Foil squad to international competition in Paris and Poland. Mike has coached multiple fencers who have made the GB Foil squads.
Mike has been working on his role as a British national development coach, working with the British U17 and U20 Foil squads.
Email Mike: bristolbladesfenicng@gmail.com
Glen Golding
Club Coach
Glen is a qualified Level 5 FIE Foil coach and a British National Development Coach for British U17 and U20 foil squads, being a finalist for the 2018 British Development coach of the year. He has coached national and commonwealth champions as well as members of the 2012 Olympic squad. Glen has coached multiple GB squads including the cadet GB women’s and men’s squads at European and World Championships.
Glen’s fencing career has also shown fantastic results, including national championship titles ranking 17th in the 1996 cadet world championships and has won multiple European Cadet Championships.
Nat Lewis
Club Sabre Coach
Nat is a qualified Level 5 FIE Sabre coach and has been coaching professionally since graduating from University. Nat has been an England u15 sabre coach travelling with the squad to international competition. Nat has recently been appointed as a British national development coach. In this role Nat works with the British U17 and U20 Sabre squads, both at national training days and abroad.
Richard Bernstein
Club Coach
Richard is a qualified Coach and Team Manager, who has been working in the Bristol area since 2015.
As a fencer, Richard has competed for both Jersey and Great Britain in 3 Commonwealth Games and medalled at 2 European and 2 World games for MACCABI GB.
As Coach and Team Manager, Richard has led Jersey at Junior Commonwealth Games. In the summer of 2019 was Manager, Coach, and Athlete at the European MACCABI GAMES. For the 2022 Commonwealth Fencing Championship Richard will be representing Jersey as an Athlete, Coach and Team Manager and on the 2022 Maccabi GB team. Richard is also youth Foil coordinator for England Fencing.
Joe Pearce
Club Coach
Taking on a more prominent coaching role while at Oxford University, Joe has continued to develop his coaching practice alongside developing as both a fencing referee and coach developer. Joe has coached and developed a multitude of successful fencers, having worked with England Senior Commonwealth team members and Veteran Team GB members. Joe has recently taken a role in developing refereeing across the country, hosting weekly referee discussion sessions, attended by FIE level referees.
Jane Glydon
Club Welfare and child Safeguarding Officer
Jane has been a member of the club community since the club began, as a parent of a young fencer. Jane has volunteered to help the club further by becoming our club safeguarding and welfare officer. In this role Jane takes regular training to make sure she is equipped to deal with potential situations which may occur.
Any member or parent that may have any concerns or worries may contact Jane on the email below.
Email me: safeguardingbristolblades@gmail.com
Alice Cuff
Club Fundraising
Alice has previously worked for a charity as their Communications and Fundraising Officer and brings her marketing skills to help Bristol Blades gain funding.
Alice works within the equestrian industry, having previously coached equestrians to improve their mindset, confidence and goal setting. Having competed in equestrian sports Alice understands the importance of sport in personal development.
Karen Cleary
Club Treasurer
Karen has recently taken on the role of club treasurer. As a mother of a fencer for many years, she understands the needs of a fencing club. She has plenty of experience of club management, running a successful school club as treasurer in the past.
Karen regularly volunteers her time helping at club run competitions.
Club Leaders
Club members volunteer to help our junior members.
Bristol Blades Fencing Club 