Over nearly 30 years in the industry, Thomas & Peters have led the field as high class original designers and producers of sporting trophies and commissions.

Our reputation has been established through the outstanding artistic quality of our sculpture and craftsmanship, and our unique, registered methods of production. By combining this with excellence in customer service and a highly responsive approach to the needs of the market, Thomas & Peters has gone  from strength to strength.

The Early Days

Thomas & Peters started life by creating a collection of handmade bronze and silver figurines and trophies. We established the highest standards by using the best quality materials, applying superb creative and technical skills, and making use of a real knowledge of our customers’ needs. Our sporting figurines and golf equipment made to scale – from tiny sports shoes to super-size bronze golf balls - set new market standards.

This in turn led to commissions for works used exclusively by some of the top business names in the UK. Along with this came interest from  individual clients and collectors at home and abroad, bringing sales in 22 countries.

A Family Business

Started by Peter Bellchambers and his wife Maria at their studio in Farnborough, Thomas & Peters has always been a family business. Peter leads the way as Senior Partner, and Maria continues to run the Farnborough studio.

The business was started with little of the necessary technical knowledge, but a huge enthusiasm and commitment, as well as a thorough knowledge of the sporting market which later became very important. As a former  Marketing Director for the then-thriving Dewhurst the butcher, Peter's existing love of sport had come in useful when he met such athletic luminaries as Seb Coe, Tessa Sanderson, Geoff Capes and many others who were well fed and performed at the Dewhurst Games in Spalding.

In time, Peter and Maria's daughter Ellinor Atkinson joined the business as in-house artist and now works from the company’s Lincolnshire Studio in Long Sutton. She was followed by her sister Elisabeth Driscoll, who provides marketing and communications support through her London-based company Bellchambers PR Ltd.

From Harrods to Wembley

In the early 1980s our collection consisted of a wide range of hand-made pieces including sports figurines, cats, dogs, and clowns, which we sold directly as well as through premier retailers such as Harrods, Harvey Nicholls, Peter Jones and Selfridges.

During one of the companys regular exhibitions at Earls Court, a woman who sold plaster saints and had connections with the Arsenal Football Club (what a remarkable combination) asked if Thomas & Peters had thought of producing a footballer which, for instance, the FA could use as a presentation piece. We did - and the FA, through Bobby Robson who was then the England Manager, took it as a presentation piece to other football associations as they travelled the world, or to those who came to Wembley.

Making Pieces Fit for Royalty and The Prime Minister

Exhibiting this footballer at a Small Business Bureau event led directly to a commission for presentation pieces for then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The Prime Minister was to be principal speaker at the Small Business Bureau Annual Awards, and Sir Dennis guest of honour at the evening reception.

This was, of course, a big moment in the history of the company. For Sir Dennis we originated a 12 inch golf figure and from there on the golf market became the backbone of our business and in turn led to other markets, in particular the commissions field.

The company was kept on its toes under the constant scrutiny of the top professionals visiting major exhibitions. They were one of 12 companies to be chosen for a visit to their stand by Prince Andrew at the annual Golf Exhibition at The National Exhibition Centre.

Quality, Excellence and Decades of Success

Like many organisations which have continued to thrive over the years, the secret of our success is in making sure we know our customers want. We listen to what they tell us – and respond to it immediately, and as part of our longer term strategy. One thing which has never changed is our complete commitment to customer service – an area in which, as a family business, we can certainly triumph over many larger providers.

Moving With the Times

And we also work hard to keep our prices as low as possible while offering an excellent quality product. We constantly work on improved production efficiencies and communication strategies to keep us ahead of the field. As we attempt to keep pace in the age of the internet, it certainly seems a long time ago that we made contact with out customers through colour adverts in magazines, and appearances trade shows and exhibitions!