Hi Pete,
Some interesting ideas. Whilst I agree it would be good to persuade some of our previously successful fencer to make a return, this is not the only solution.
There are a number of successful vets who are relatively new to fencers. At least 2 of the medal winners at the recent Europeans were examples- Michelle Narey and Jane Hutchison. The thing that they both have in common is a serious attitude to training, This probably applies to most of the ex-top fencers. It is a combination of some talent and hard work that brings success.