Until five years ago, Gareth Evans was a familiar face in homes across the south coast.

That all changed when the news and sports presenter found himself without a job after the TV station he was working for restructured.

With bills that were mounting up, the father-of-three didn’t have time to sit around – he spent two years running food and washing-up in a pub before deciding to reignite his fervour for fencing by becoming a professional sword fencing coach.

“I had a 30-year career in broadcasting,” explains the 60-year-old from Fordingbridge.

“I really enjoyed it. I travelled the world on sporting assignments and got to see some of the best competitions throughout my career, including rugby world cups and yacht races.

“When I lost my job, I still needed to pull my weight and be able to pay the bills, so I took a job in a pub. I literally spent two years washing-up.

“I wasn’t too proud to do what was needed. And, more recently, it meant I was free late afternoons and evenings to coach.”

Gareth has been passionate about fencing since he first tried the sport when he was just 11 years old and went on to become National Schoolboy and Universities foil champion, a Team GB International, reserve for the MontrealOlympics, Captain of Wales and a Commonwealth Team bronze medallist.

He started coaching when his children took up the sport 12 years ago, but never really considered pursuing a career in it until recently.

“I loved fencing, it really captured my imagination,” he says. “In the beginning I wasn’t overly good at it, but I persevered and that paid off for me “When my broadcasting career took off, fencing had to take a back seat for a while. And then, when my children were younger they wanted to try it – that was when I took my coaching qualifications.

“But it was never going to pay the bills, which is why I took a job in the pub.

“People would often recognise me there and say: ‘Do I know you from somewhere?’ ‘Were you on the television?’ And then when I told them, they would say: ‘Oh no, I never watched ITV.’ Others would assume I was the landlord.”

Although Gareth has coached a few people to competition level over the last eight years, a few weeks ago he decided leave the pub and concentrate more on his coaching: “I just thought to myself: ‘This is stupid, I’m really good at coaching, and I enjoy doing it.’”

One of Gareth’s prodigies is 51-year-old Amanda Collins. She started fencing after spotting an advert for classes at her local gym, and Gareth has been coaching her for eight years.

“I had seen 007 and Madonna in Die Another Day, and I thought it looked really interesting,” she says.

“I’d been doing kick-boxing and was getting a bit bored with it when I saw a poster in the gym for Gareth’s class.

“It really grabbed me.

“I think you have to be a bit competitive and want to better yourself, and you must be prepared to put the time and effort in and take on board what your coach says.

“Gareth is an amazing coach – he comes and supports me in competitions, and it is such a good feeling when something clicks in that he has suggested in a session – and it works and you win!”

Gareth goes on to explain how the sport is suitable for any age range, from five through to 85 – his oldest student. And he is hoping that he may one day spot a star for the future Great Britain Olympic Team.

“There never used to be many children looking for coaches because of the high costs of all the equipment,” adds Gareth. “But that has changed.

“Now, all they need to start is a pair of tracksuit bottoms, a T-shirt and trainers. “We have plastic swords that beep on contact, so it’s extremely safe.

“It’s very much Pirates of the Caribbean; we play games and I split them into musketeers and pirates – they love swashbuckling.

“I do believe children are the future for fencing. You can often spot a good kid who just has that little something that makes them stand out. I’m hoping that one day I may spot the Olympians of the future, and maybe help them to achieve the best of their ability.

“I think I’m incredibly lucky.

“I’ve had a fantastic career that I really loved, but I am still doing something that I love now too.”

For more, visit swordfencing4fun.co.uk or call Gareth on 07824 806370.