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Salesman Cliff a sole survivor
A SHOE salesman who worked for the same factory for nearly 50 years returned to his home town to take a nostalgic look at an exhibition about the company's history.
Former John White worker Cliff Timpson, who now lives in Lichfield, Staffordshire, visited Rushden Museum yesterday to see displays about the history of the company and to share his memories of selling its shoes around the country.
Mr Timpson, 86, worked for the company from 1937 until he retired in 1986, apart from a spell he spent in the RAF during the Second World War.
He said: "When I started work I received about 10 shillings (50p) a week. I worked in the factory's offices in Newton Road and Lime Street before I was moved to the head office in Higham Ferrers.
"After the war I became a rep and travelled all over around places like Hereford and Lancashire selling shoes to shops.
"I enjoyed the travelling and feeling like I was my own boss. It was quite interesting because before the war John White only sold to suppliers, but in 1946 it decided to sell to retailers, which meant I ended up with hundreds of customers to visit."
Mr Timpson was joined at the museum by his friend and former colleague Bob Smith, who spent four hours travelling from Sussex to get to the exhibition.
Mr Smith, 83, started working for an offshoot of the company in Higham Ferrers called Nene Valley Shoes in 1938 before working at a number of John White sales offices in Rushden and Higham Ferrers up until 1958, except for a period he spent serving in the Royal Navy during the war.
He said: "Before the war I didn't really think about having a career at John White's because I knew I was going to be called up
"Later, when the company started selling to retailers, shoes were rationed so shopkeepers were only allowed so many pairs.
"As a result John White wanted to make sure its shoes were in the best shops in the country.
"I am very pleased to see the history of the factory has been remembered in this way and the exhibition was well worth the four hour trip to get here."
The display will be on show at the museum this weekend and next weekend. It then closes for the winter.
The museum is located in the grounds of Rushden Hall Park behind the hall.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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