v
WORK
Me & my job
Robert Merryfield, cobbler, Dulwich SE22...
... is known locally for his talent of fixing up crooked
It’s strange but true... that I
feet. But it’s his growth of international clients that
occasionally get someone wander in
with an entire crocodile or snakeskin,
makes this cobbler remarkable.
saying, ‘fancy buying this?’ Often
Today I’m going to... London Bridge
feet. People are always moving and
it hasn’t been treated so it’s useless
to pick up some leather from one of
telling their mates who they use for
to me; it’d just tear if I tried to use it.
my wholesalers. The skins I use come
this and that. I don’t advertise but I’ve
I’m the only person I know... who
from all over the world; I pick them
got customers in America and Dubai.
makes wooden boot lasts. They take
depending on quality.
I had a princess once... but I never
ages but it’s worth it. I don’t care if
My furthest clients... live in
got to meet her. Some bloke came in
the other cobblers think I’m crazy.
Australia. They used to live here, then
on her behalf – I can’t tell you who it
My first job in London was... as a
emigrated. I keep the lasts of their
was though.
shoe maker. I’ve been doing it for 25
years. The only other job was being
a soldier. I was young and thought
‘these boots are bloody ****!’
My passion is... fixing people.
People in pain – on sticks even
– with unusual or collapsed feet.
Look at this lady’s foot [grabs a
wooden last]. See how the toes point
up! She could only walk for a few
minutes and I fixed that!
I make orthotic supports...
by taking a plaster cast of a person’s
feet. From this I make corrective sole
inserts. This sorts out any motional
irregularities when walking and can
relieve things like back pain. Loads
of people do them now. I’m not
going to say I’m better than anyone
else but I’m good and they work.
No one knows... that when I have
a male customer who is delicate
– like an office worker – I’ll usually
use ladies weight leather when
constructing his shoes but without
telling him. I’m good at sizing people
up and working out what type
of shoe they need but there’s
no need to cause offence!
I abhor... leather shoe lasts. Some
people build up a last by patching
on layers of leather. It’s too flexible
and the longevity just isn’t there!
At best, shoe lasts should be carved
from wood, at worst, from plastic.
Merryfields, 42 Grove Vale, Dulwich,
SE22 8DY t: 020 8693 1611
add lib | 35
butler spread.indd 5 10/3/08 10:09:15
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