"Wargames Nostalgia – Different Scales " Topic

"Throughout the 1970s we built up our 20mm Napoleonic collection. It was mostly Airfix, Hinton Hunt and Miniature Figurines. I painted figures most nights and we had a wargame once a week or so, mostly just Jan and me. We introduced a couple of friends to wargaming, but none did more than dabble.

In 1980 we returned to the UK and bought our first house in Warminster. I found that there was a wargames club in nearby Devizes and promptly joined. It was our first experience of an established club. It was great to meet new gamers, but the actual games were disappointing. The club met once a week in a church hall, and an hour or so was spent setting up the tables and deciding which games to play. The actual game could not last more than a four hours or so, as everything had to be put away before we left. There was only one Napoleonic wargamer, the rest had a variety of interests.

I was quite surprised to find that most of the games, including the few Napoleonic ones, used Miniature Figurines 15mm figures. If I wanted to take part I would be expected to put some on the table. Fortunately Paul and Theresa Baily were members of the club. They toured the wargame shows selling 20mm and 15mm Miniature Figurines. They also offered both to club members at a discount. I decided that I would duplicate my 20mm armies in 15mm…."
From here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Thank you my dear cousin for this find.

While I was never a member of the Devizes Wargames Club I did attend their convention most years and always enjoyed the event. I also remember Paul and Theresa Bailey fondly. The photo of Minifigs store in Southampton also brought back memories.

Yes, the gaming in a church hall, loosing 1.5-2 hours in set up and take down; we were a little faster with the Bath Club we had 6:30 to 10pm but still managed to game.

I have never visited the Bath Wargames Club, but I recall that when I belonged to the Devizes club there was talk about trying organise some sort of link with them. I think the aim was to arrange regular visits to wargame. Did anything ever come of that?

Not sure what happened to Paul and Theresa Bailey. We last visited them in The Keep, but I believe that they are no longer there.

Always a plesure for me my dear cousin!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Paul,

I'm not sure what happened to the Bath Wargames Society, the last time I was there would have been about '88 and I didn't go that often having moved to Cheltenham.

Paul and Theresa moved out of The Keep premises some years ago but still operate a mail order business. Since I have lived in the UK in now twenty years I've lost touch with them.

keepwargaming.co.uk

If anyone from Devizes has any news of them I'd be interested.

Elliott

Elliott

Thanks for the link. I recognised quite a few things on their stock list that they had in The Keep when we last visited them in the late 1990s.

I thought it very appropriate that they still offer Minifigs, though obviously not the full range. I can remember that they carted the whole 25mm and 15mm range around all the major shows. It must have been back breaking unpacking, setting up and the packing it all back in the transport. Must be a lot easier selling via Ebay!

Good to see that they are still going 30 odd years later.

Best of luck to them

Paul