Connie Adam

Connie Adam (née Constance Varvel; 1927–2021) was a champion fencer and the first woman Freeman of Norwich.

Early life Constance Varvel was born in Norwich in 1927, and raised by her grandparents.

In recognition of her sporting achievements, Adam was asked to carry the Olympic torch when it passed through Norwich in 2012. She described this as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience".

Adam retired from fencing in 2019 at the age of 91, citing the unmanageable weight of the kit she travelled with rather than any decrease in fitness. In 2020, she was named by the Eastern Daily Press as one of Norfolk's "Sporting Heroes".

Freeman of Norwich An illegitimate child, Adam did not meet her father until 1977, when she was almost 50 years old. Others featured included Amelia Opie, Sophia Duleep Singh, and Joyce Lambert.