All of these stories came about following the loss of my family

Mick Betts I was born here on the 10th April 1945 just two weeks before the war finished and was born at Eastfield Crescent.

I was educated at Finedon Infant School, boy’s Junior School then Senior School. I remember that when I was at the boy’s Junior School we were often given the day off so that the building could be repaired; it was falling apart. The teachers I remember from the Junior School were Mrs. Pratt, Mrs. Munns and Wing Commander Jackson who had been in the Royal Air force and Mr. Clark who came from Rushden. My teachers at the Infant School were Miss Cook, Miss Bates and the headmistress Mrs. Barker. In general I would say that I liked school and have fond memories of my school days.

When I left school I worked at Summerfield’s Dairy in Irthlingborough where I did general work for a couple of years.
I went to work for Loake’s shoe factory and earned three pounds seven shillings and sixpence for a forty-five hour week and I worked for Loakes’ for thirty two years in Rock Road. I was in the
Finishing Room. For ten years I worked in the stores. I was also the key holder for a number of years. There were sixty people employed and we always had to clock in apart from the last four years when I was a store man. Loakes made good quality leather shoes and some even went to Harrods London but a lot went too little stores and many were exported to places like Japan, Germany, Australia, France and Africa.

It was piecework and quite often the time dragged. I had a good relationship with other colleagues and after all a job is what you make it.
There were a lot of older workers there and quite a few women were employed in the Closing Room some being part time.
We could buy shoes at cost price; they were classic shoes not what you would wear when you were younger but I did buy one or two pairs. The trade union there was the Knitwear, Footwear and Allied Trades but there was never the need to go on strike as it was a family firm and I think we were looked after well. I had three months notice before having to leave and I was offered a job in Kettering but I did not want to go and anyway felt it was time for a change.
BBC Look East came to interview Snowy Coles, Tony Hill and Cyril from Woodford but it was only a small slot. I have to say that I was not surprised when the factory closed down as when you go from seventy percent export to none you know there are problems. People were buying cheaper shoes and trainers did not help; a lot of people seemed to be wearing casual shoes. If people do not buy the shoes then there is no point in making them.

Most people were devastated and we all had to go up to the top factory on Burton Road and they told us all together. It was spring.
I remember Coronation Day as we had the only television in the street; a 10 inch one and our house was packed out with folks and mum spent all her time making sandwiches. I also remembered Finedon Parades. Very often parties were arranged in the Allen Road Club for us and we used to have trips to the seaside in a char banc driven by Albert Loveday. I married Diane in 1970 at All Hallows in Wellingborough and our daughters were born in 1972 and 1975.