A Potted History of the SSA

This is a list of some of the important moments in the history of the Sussex Rapier School and the Sussex Sword Academy

Date	Milestone
1997	Sussex Rapier School (SRS) founded. Training at West Hill Community Hall
1998	SRS First handling session at the Wallace Collection and pay by conducting a demonstration of historical sword fighting in the original courtyard
1999	SRS attend the second AGM of the British Federation for Historical Swordplay (BFHS) and become members
2000	SRS fence on a floating oil rig as part of a spectacular production of The Tempest produced by Richard Attenborough
2001	Andrew Feest and Duncan Fatz accredited as Instructors
2002	Inaugural ‘Duncan’s Dagger Tournament’ (DDT)
2003	Andrew goes to Italy to study with FISAS
2004	Duncan wins the Glorianna Cup
2005 2006	SRS moves to larger training area at Brighton and Hove High School Lyell starts teaching and developing broadsword at the SRS
2006	SRS moves to larger training area at The Manor
2007	Duncan and Andrew give an illustrated lecture on the Chevalier St. George at the Old Courthouse in Brighton, UK
2007	SRS celebrates 10th anniversary – Holds celebration tournament and dinner
2007	SSA introduces Longsword to the curriculum
2008	Andrew teaches at the Annual FISAS meeting in Verbania, Italy
2008	Duncan teaches at SWASH
2008	SSA asked to demonstrate sword techniques by the National Army Museum
2009	Lyell Drummond becomes Instructor
2009	SSA grading structure instigated
2010	SRS becomes the Sussex Sword Academy (SSA)
2012	SSA Employed by the Wallace Collection to display the art of sword fighting for their exhibition, The Noble Art of the Sword
2013	Cameron Paine becomes an Assistant Broadsword Instructor
2015	Andrew retires. Duncan Fatz elected as President
2015	SSA Employed to promote the film Pan on a set in Leicester Square
2015	SSA performs at the Brighton Fringe Festival – Stories of the Sword
2016	Lyell teaches at the International Sabre Symposium at Hamburg, Germany
2016	SSA event Muckrach Castle, Scotland
2007	SSA celebrates 20th anniversary
2017	SSA has a handling session at the Wallace Collection in London
2018	SSA performs at the Brighton Fringe Festival – Stories of the Sword: Second Stab
2018	SSA event held in Arundel to celebrate our 21st birthday
2018	Cameron teaches at the Malta Historical Fencing International Meeting at Valletta, Malta & Birgu
2019	Sam Turner becomes Assistant Instructor
2020	Online meetings and challenges initiated during COVID outbreak
2021	Lyell Drummond becomes Master at Arms
2021	Cameron Paine becomes a full Broadsword Instructor
2022	DDT 20th Anniversary
2022	SSA holds demo at the Manor for Platinum Jubilee
2022	Sam Turner becomes a full Rapier Instructor of the SSA

Removed items

24-27th of April 2008	Andrew teaches at the Annual FISAS meeting in Verbania, Italy Lyell invited to demonstrate his study and practice of broadsword to the masters and attendees at the event
2008-2011	SSA moves to The Manor gym, Brighton
November 2011	Lyell teaches at the Malta Historical Fencing International Meeting at Valletta, Malta
2012	DDT 10th Anniversary
November 2012	Lyell teaches at the Malta Historical Fencing International Meeting at Valletta, Malta
November 2013	Andrew teaches at the Malta Historical Fencing International Meeting at Valletta, Malta
February 2014	Lyell teaches at the HEMAC event in Glasgow, UK
November 2014	Lyell teaches at the Malta Historical Fencing International Meeting at Valletta, Malta
April 2015	Lyell teaches at the International Sabre Symposium at Hamburg, Germany
July 2016	Lyell teaches at the Féile na Gaiscígh at Dublin, Ireland
Nov 2016	SSA broadswords trip to Scotland, taking in Glencoe, Fort William, Strathspey, Muckrach Castle, Killiecrankie, Culloden, Fort George and Inverness.
November 2019	Duncan teaches at the Malta Historical Fencing International Meeting at Valletta, Malta & Birgu