Making life easier for the 'Knights of St John'

Visitors to the armoury at the President's Palace, in Valletta, probably question how the knights of the Order of St John could carry such heavy body protection.

Armour used to be made of steel plates to mitigate the harm by gun and arrow shots. So how do today's re-enactors manage to spend so much time carrying such heavy armour during public manifestations such as the Historic Cities Festival held in Vittoriosa?

Today's "knights" have had their job made that much easier thanks to Charles Bellia, who has managed to replicate the armour in fibreglass.

So meticulous is Mr Bellia in his work that tourists and locals alike often express surprise when told that the armour is a fibreglass copy.

Mr Bellia, 67, of Mosta does the whole works, including Marion and Burgonet helmets, gorgets to protect the neck, breast and back plates and tassets, among other pieces.

The items are all made in one size with belts being used to make such armour fit the different sizes of the actors.

Mr Bellia is working in the preparation of the armour to be used at the projected permanent family entertainment park in Luqa called Knights Spectacular 1565.

This Great Siege park will be based on the great epic of 1565 when the Knights of the Order of St John took on the might of the Ottoman Empire when the Turks invaded the island.

The entrepreneurs behind this venture are MK Leisure and the show will be directed by veteran art director Salvu Mallia.

Mr Bellia's expert eye and hands have been put to other good uses as he also produces boats, light aircraft and cars. In fact, he was commissioned by university professor Edward Mallia to make a lightweight car as part of the professor's campaign to promote the use of solar energy.