As the end of another year fast approaches Hobby and Leisure takes on a new range of SAC Chess Sets. These are themed sets each of a particular period of history; many recognisable characters are reproduced as chess pieces, such as Sherlock Holmes, Robert the Bruce, Wellington, Napoleon etc.

Sherlock Holmes Chess Set Pieces in Presentation Box

The high skill of the designers, sculptors and craftsmen of SAC shines through in our collection of handmade chess sets and chess boards. The richness of finish and attention to detail contribute to the success of the beautiful products from the SAC range, which is appreciated on five continents.

Battle of Waterloo Chess Set Pieces

The chess sets are mainly produced in two finishes made from crushed stone poly resin. Hand decorated sets where only certain parts are coloured by hand, whilst some areas remain plain, allowing for the naturally material to be exposed. Our regular sets are in a dark brown and cream plain finish. The chess sets do not come with the chess board unless in a presentation set.

Click on the image below for a view of the range of sets available.



Full Range of available sets 2014





Ah, Well its British weather for you

Every year a group of parents get together to put an open air concert at the local school. Great fund raiser and gives the performers a feel of real value. A paying audience (£5.00 per person) can bring chairs, table, hamper, booze, candelabras, flags, rugs brollies etc, Parking very close to the site so nothing to much trouble. Some seasoned campaigners even bring their own Gazebos.

Its a great night were parents and friends enjoy an evening of light music played to a very high standard. The night's finally is a firework show. The door open at 5:30 to about 300 souls and the concert starts at 7:30 finishing at 10:30.

Unfortunately this year disaster hit, Four of us put the two Gazebos up on Friday night, as usual and by Saturday (5:30) when we next had access to the school we found the mangled wreckage on the school roof. Photo shows part of the recovered wreckage.

But in true British spirit the concert went on inside with some of the audience in the corridors and as usual it was a Grrreeaaatttt Night.

Torch Special for the Motorist or Camper

we, at Hobby and Leisure felt that if you were unfortunate enough to have a breakdown, run out of fuel or have to abandon the car at the side of the road these little gizmos should draw attention to the fact you are stationery. It is safer to place one a few paces from the rear of the car and it would make sense to add one a few paces to the front, to warn the on coming traffic.

We have a number of these “Safety Torches” in stock and thought it would make sense to offer them in pairs. So if you buy one you get one free. This is a genuine special offer at a time of year when the family car will be expected to do more mileage than usual.

Buy one get one free

We felt that if you were unfortunate enough to have a breakdown, run out of fuel or have to abandon the car at the side of the road these little gizmos should draw attention to the fact you are stationery. It is safer to place one a few paces from the rear of the car and it would make sense to add one a few paces to the front, to warn the on coming traffic.

We have a number of these “Safety Torches” in stock and thought it would make sense to offer them in pairs. So if you buy one you get one free. This is a genuine special offer at a time of year when the family car will be expected to do more mileage than usual.

The Who "Specials"

As a "professional schoolboy" Doctor who still holds the same fascination for me now as it did all those years ago when I was a boy in Porthcawl, South Wales.
I remember my dad and I watching many an episode, me from behind the settee. Looking back I remember it as being "our time" Saturday afternoon after a hard days play or gardening in dad’s case. The Doctor was played by William Hartnell, the reception was "grainy" and in black and white.

Like the Doctor the TVs have transformed so has the trick photography and effects created, but one of the best off shoots from the 280 odd stories is the toy development. Young fans have, for a number of years, been able to buy jointed, fully poseable figurines of many of the principle characters created by the programs, and we have managed to scoop a number of them. I have shown some from Series 5 (The Eleventh Doctor) for which we offer as a special

Man-at-arms

The term man-at-arms primarily denoted a military function, rather than a social rank. The military function that a man-at-arms performed was serving as a fully armoured heavy cavalryman; though he could, and in English armies often did, also fight on foot. The man-at-arms could be a wealthy mercenary of any social origins, but more often had some level of social rank based on income, usually from land.

The terms knight and man-at-arms are often used interchangeably, but while all knights certainly were men-at-arms, not all men-at-arms were knights.

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full range

Pewter Medieval Knight (on Horseback 13C) Suit of Armour # 7658

Pewter Medieval C15th. Knight with Pennant 4.25ins. Ancestors # 7706

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Pewter Medieval C16th. Mounted Knight 4.25ins Ancestors # 7689

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Pewter Medieval King on Horseback 4.25ins Ancestors # 7735

Pewter Medieval Knight on Horseback with Lance 4.25ins Ancestors # 7729

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Pewter Medieval Knight with Axe & Crest 4.25ins. Ancestors # 7705

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Ancestors Pewter Knight in Light Horse Armour C16th, # 7690

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The two sides of Henry VIII

English History has always been a fascinating subject. Henry VIII was one of the most memorable monarchs of our monarchs. These detailed Men at Arms Pewter Figurines help bring the subjects to life.

Only part of the existing range shown below Just Click on the Logo to see the full range held in stock at the moment..

The Tower of London exhibition marks 500 years since his accession, new research by the Royal Armouries in Leeds reveals the full scale of his gargantuan girth.

The twenty something Henry VIII was tall, muscle-bound and supremely fit - a talented athlete and a courageous jouster at the grand tournaments of the age.

His armour from that period reveals some impressive dimensions: a 32in waist and a 39in chest.

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He was an immense figure in the history of England. Just how immense, however, has finally been revealed after a study of his body armour exposed Henry VIII's extraordinary vital statistics.

It found that by the end of his reign the 6ft 1in Tudor king had a whopping 52in waist and 53in chest - enough to make him severely obese by modern standards.

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Henry VIII (r.1509-1547) was an attractive and charismatic man in his prime, educated and accomplished. He was an author and a composer. He ruled with absolute power. His desire to provide
England with a male heir—which stemmed partly from personal vanity and partly because he believed a daughter would be unable to consolidate the Tudor Dynasty and the fragile peace that existed following the Wars of the Roses—led to the two things that Henry is remembered for: his wives, and the English Reformation that made England a mostly Protestant nation. In later life he became morbidly obese and his health suffered; his public image is frequently depicted as one of a lustful, egotistical, harsh and insecure king.

In the last few years of his life, he was affected by ulcerous legs that turned gangrenous, he may have had syphilis and he may have had osteomyelitis possibly caused by a jousting accident.

When Henry died on January 28th, 1547, few mourned his death. He had become highly unpredictable in his final years and this alone made him more and more of a danger to those who were near to him

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord and later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of France. Henry was the second monarch of the House of Tudor, succeeding his father, Henry VII.

Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church.

The range will expand by mid July and will expand further with a large shipment nearer the Christmas season.

These figurines make ideal gifts for the collector or connoisseur interested in our historical past..