It was a good start in life for the young members of the Royal family…thanks to Norwich-made Start-rite shoes.
From 1955 until 1993 Start-rite (James Southall & Co) had the honour of being granted a Royal Warrant for supplying shoes for Prince Charles and Princess Anne. And then Prince William and Prince Harry.
By the time of Prince Charles’ visit to Norwich to celebrate the firm’s bicentenary in 1992, they had made hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes for the family.
One of the shoe-makers Jean Woods told Michael and Frances Holmes of the Norwich Heritage Projects when writing their book about the boot and shoe industry: “It was a real honour to be selected to work on shoes for the Royal Family, but making them was a nightmare because they had to be absolutely spot-on. Goodness knows how many times a pair went around before it was let out of the factory,” she said.
Princess Anne also visited the Norwich factory to chat to the workers and see how the shoes were made.
Start-rite can trace its history back to 1792 when James Smith opened a shop and factory in the Upper Market on St Peter’s Street.
He became one of the first shoemakers in the country to offer an alternative to expensive bespoke footwear.
Following his death in 1818 other members of the family ran the business which became one of the first to use sewing machines and they were employing between 800 and 900 people in the factory and in their homes.
The business eventually passed into the ownership of the straight-talking, no-nonsense of James Southall and became James Southall & Co. Ltd., operating from a big factory built on Crome Road in the city
In the 1930s the famous Start-rite twins made their first appearance and the company concentrated on making top-quality and comfortable shoes for children.
James Lafflin Hanly, (known as Mr Jim) followed in the footsteps of other members of the family and took over as company chairman in the 1940s and in 1952 they stopped making adult footwear and concentrated on Start-rite shoes for children
Mr Jim was known for his wit and humour and his nephew David White, who succeeded his uncle as chairman, recalls an occasion about him telling him about one of the first visits he and fitting consultant Bill Peake went to Buckingham Palace to see Prince Charles.
After they had finishing measuring his feet and the Prince had chosen his shoes, the Queen walked in. He was introduced. She was very gracious and there was a bit of small talk.
Eventually the Queen said: “We’re just going to have tea. Have you had your tea Mr Hanly?” He said no he hadn’t whilst thinking ‘this is marvellous, here I am selling shoes and I’m going to have tea with the Queen.’
That was until she said: “Oh dear, we mustn’t keep you then…Good-bye.”
It was an honour for all those who worked at Start-rite when Prince Charles visited the factory in 1992 to join in the bicentennial celebrations.
The factory has gone but the memories of happy days remain and the twins are still walking the Start-rite way …so our children can follow in the footsteps of our King and members of his family.
With thanks to Norwich Heritage Projects publishers of The Story of the Norwich Boot and Shoe Trade.
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