SOSF NEWS
A worthy ‘FELLOW’ of our organisation BOB HARDY F.S.S.F.
Fitting Services Manager of Clarks - A Working History
In June 1970, a fresh-faced schoolboy set off for a second interview at Clarks in pursuit of a Shoemaking Apprenticeship. But for a quirk of fate it could have been the end before it began of an almost 47-year career in footwear. A falling out with a school science master had resulted in him not allowing me to leave for the interview in good time. Having rushed home, changed and headed for Clarks I was stopped by an old guy with a car that was refusing to start. In those days, you didn’t argue with elders, so I ended up pushing his car which, thankfully, spluttered into life. Wiping away the sweat I realised, in my earlier haste, I’d forgotten to put on a tie so asked the car owner if I could borrow one, as his house was nearby.
A dapper gentleman in a suit, white shirt and
tie, named Charles Fuidge interviewed me and I got the apprenticeship.
When I turned up the following month for my
first day in the factory minus a tie, I was hastily found one with the warning that everybody in the management team, first day apprentices included, always wore a tie as Mr Fuidge would never employ anyone who did not! After that near miss my career steadily progressed, completing my apprenticeship and working in Clarks factories until the end of the decade. A move into the Technical Services area was fortuitous as it preceded the unfortunate closure of the Clarks UK factories and it began my close association with ‘shoe’ or, as it should really be known, ‘foot’ fitting, that has been a main focus of my career.
In the early 80’s I joined the S.S.F through the
entrance exam and, if my memory is correct, the first at Honours level! I have made many friends through the Society and we share many common values. I am also proud to have been awarded a Fellowship by the Society. In this decade, I was also commissioned to co-author a layman’s guide to Healthy Feet and Footwear with Lewis Russell the then Head of the Plymouth University School of Podiatry. The book was a modest success but
Fortunately, the outcome was positive and I
achieved a little bit of fame as opposed to the infamy of being another victim of the “Pitbull” Ms Robinson.
I have enjoyed a 30+ year association with the
Podiatry profession and again made many friends in the profession and associated industries. In that time, I have delivered Footwear and Foot Fitting Workshops for perhaps as many as 9,000 student podiatrists many of whom are now tutors at the Universities I have recently visited. In later years with the growth of the global market I have become involved helping to build Clarks international business.
I have been fortunate to visit more than 50
countries to face the challenge of building a business promoting fit and comfort as an important part of what the Clarks brand has to offer. One trip I shared with Laura, our excellent Secretary, to Zlin in the Czech Republic, the home of Bata and the venue for a pan-European conference on footwear.
I could recount many a story of experiences on
eventually went overboard when the owner of the publishing company, a certain Robert Maxwell, did the same thing!
As time progressed, whilst retaining technical
responsibilities, I became involved with the retail side of the business running the Fitting Training programme for UK and Ireland store staff and becoming the public face of fitting for Clarks. This included many positive experiences including with the press and media on programmes such as “This Morning” and others but also a live “face up” with Anne Robinson on the Watchdog programme. Readers of this article will probably agree that the issue raised by Watchdog, that of measuring accuracy on small children, was misplaced. No matter how good the foot gauge, it is only a starting point, as the fitting of the individual shoes on the individual feet is paramount!
the international front but perhaps the most “hands on” is in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan when the night replaces day as the time to be awake and I’ve sold many pairs of First Shoes between 2 and 4am where the shops don’t close until almost dawn. Unbelievably, the kids are wide awake at that time even if I wasn’t!
On a personal level I still live within a mile of
the house in Street, Somerset where I was born. My wife of almost 40 years, Jeanette, has endured the absences overseas and we are looking forward to more time together. We are fortunate that our two children live nearby and we regularly see our three granddaughters and our grandson. I hope to play a little more golf and tend my allotment which has spectacular views of the Quantock and Mendip Hills, Somerset Levels, Glastonbury Tor and on a clear day even the Brecon Beacons in Wales.
8 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
• MAY 2017
www.footweartoday.co.uk
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