NEWS
Contact: Rob Sewell. | T: 07774722757 | Cocoon Partners. | E:
rsewell@blueyonder.co.uk
President and Past-President of The Society of Shoe Fitters are jolly good fellows!
Very few Fellowships of the Society of Shoe Fitters have been bestowed on members. They are presented to those who have been a part of the charity organisation over many years and have worked beyond the call of duty to support the aims and objectives of the charity and promote professional shoe fitting. Past President Bernard O’Brien
F.S.S.F. of Luke O’Brien Shoes to-be-Shoer of Tuam, Co. Galway and current President and Tutor Rosemary Gray of North Shoes in Bourne, Lincolnshire were two recipients at the Datateam Footwear Awards Dinner during the MODA shoe fair. Rosemary tells us: “It is always fun to attend the Awards Dinner and as
President of the Society of Shoe Fitters I was pleased to present an award to our Student of the Year (George Paish, Bill Bird Shoes) and a well-deserved Fellowship to Bernard O’Brien for his work for the Society and within the shoe trade. However, the tables were turned on me and I was both surprised and honoured in equal measure to accept this prestigious award of a Fellowship myself. Apparently, my face was a picture and I was so surprised I confess to tears, setting off several others in the room. I have been a part of the Society for more years than I care to remember and a Tutor for around 20 years. We all work hard as a team, so I feel it gives the whole society recognition. I am due to semi-retire from my place of work mid-year but can assure everyone I will keep going with the Society to help promote shoe fitting and the importance of its training within the industry”. Secretary Laura West says ‘This sums up
Rosemary, modest and giving. It was a great pleasure to be with Rosemary and see her shock and delight on the night. Her input and support are invaluable, so we are greatly relieved she will not be retiring from her work with us. Bernard was our first President from Ireland and has made the time and effort to attend hundreds of meetings over
the years and always responds to a call for help. They are both dedicated professionals and it is an honour to work with them and present their Certificate of Fellowship and an inscribed valet box from Dasco Dunkelman’. Bernard O’Brien said "I was totally shocked, delighted and honoured to be nominated as a Fellow, I know they are not awarded lightly. Shoe fitting is a challenging and rewarding profession".
2019 Student Shoe Fitter of the Year George Paish M.S.S.F
The Society of Shoe Fitters charity is just completing its 60th year. They were delighted to present George Paish of Bill Bird Shoes (bespoke shoemakers in Moreton-in-the-Marsh) with their Student of the Year 2019 – Fisher- George Memorial Trophy. The presentation took place at the Footwear Awards Dinner organised by Datateam Publishing during the MODA weekend. This prestigious industry award
is given to the most outstanding student on the long-running Footwear & Fitting Course – a 5 module course which includes the industry, anatomy/physiology of the foot, problem feet, construction methods, materials and their bearing on fit, gauges, sizing and customer care etc. It is primarily distance learning with two practical modules – one at the College of Podiatry and the other at a Northamptonshire shoe factory (DB/Loake Shoes).
George tells us: ‘As someone who only entered the industry two years ago completing The Society of Shoefitters footwear and fitting course has been an invaluable part of my journey so far. Learning it whilst I’m still relatively new to footwear has set me off on the correct path armed with what I read in the folder provided and at the practical workshops. qualification to my CV.
It also adds a recognised industry I work day-to-day as a bespoke orthopaedic
shoemaker and the information in the coursework has given me insight into other areas of the industry, things I may not have learnt without completing the course. I’d recommend it to anyone who works with shoes, feet and the lower limbs of the body. However knowledgeable you think you are, there’s something in there for everyone to learn. It’s separated into manageable sections which are easy to cross refer to, and you can go at your own pace. Winning the Fisher George Student of the year was a real honour and it was great to be rewarded for the time and effort I put into the answers I submitted.’ President and Fellow of the Society Rosemary Gray said ‘Working with
George was a pleasure and we are delighted George has chosen to become a Lifetime Member. There is no doubt he is already an asset to Bill Bird Shoes and to the footwear trade. George has a great future ahead in one of the most rewarding and much needed parts of our industry’.
#$""$'*#"$"'#!$$"#%!"**&&&#!$$"#%!" 6 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • MARCH/APRIL 2020
www.footweartoday.co.uk (" )%#!
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