Francesca Lacuata is lead instructor at The School of the Sword’s Godalming chapter, having studied Bolognese swordplay and rapier since 2010. She has a further interest and experience in renaissance dagger-fighting, Bartitsu and longsword. Fran has instructed at high-profile events in Britain, Europe and the US; and has placed in and won over thirty international competitions.
As a writer, Fran has demonstrated, panelled and presented on historical fencing and real-world violence at lectures and writers’ conventions, including Fantasycon and at the Wallace Collection.
Fran has organised over 30 international events starting with the International Rapier Seminar 2016. She co-founded Waterloo Sparring Group in 2012, which facilitates inter-group sparring from clubs all over the south of England and beyond. Fran was a founder of the Wessex League series of events as well as The English Sidesword Open and the Albion Cup.
By The Sword is an event for under-represented genders founded by Fran, and is also the title of her podcast series where she interviews numerous members of the global sword community. Fran was also a founding member of Esfinges, a worldwide organisation for women in HEMA.