Press release published Thursday 09 November 2006
Six of Britain’s most accomplished cobblers have been invited to participate in the 791st Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 11th November 2006.
The craftsmen, who all work for the UKs biggest shoe repair chain, Timpson, will join boss, John Timpson CBE, and thousands of other participants exclusively invited to lead the Lord Mayor elect from The Guildhall to the Royal Courts of Justice for the annual inauguration ceremony.
The 63 year old retail magnate, who owns more than 550 shoe repair outlets nationwide, is widely regarded as one of Britain’s best bosses.
After determining the theme of the float, Mr. Timpson invited some of his best craftsmen to join him at the prestigious City of London spectacular.
The management maverick renowned for his mischievous sense of fun, is set to join his staff dressed in a sumo-sized cobbler’s costume when he assumes his position by the cobbler’s last on the Timpson float.
Currently under wraps at a confidential location in Yorkshire, the float’s theme and design has been a closely guarded secret until now.
Based on the popular nursery rhyme, Cobbler Cobbler Mend My Shoe’, the float will be unveiled for the first time on Thursday 9th November when it arrives at Timpson’s Manchester headquarters for a final fitting out prior to its journey south to London.
John Timpson comments: “It is a great honour to be invited to take part in the oldest street parade in history. The Lord Mayor’s Show is a superb spectacle and one that we’re looking forward to participating in immensely.
“The continuing popularity of stiletto heels helped create another record-breaking profits year for Timpson so the ‘Cobbler, cobbler…’ theme is very timely.”
Mr. Timpson reveals the age old nursery rhyme has left him intrigued: “I cannot find the origins of the rhyme anywhere. Not even the mighty Google could throw any light on it. It’s actually starting to drive me mad with curiosity.”
And the philanthropic retailer added: “If anyone can provide me with a convincing derivation of the ‘Cobbler, cobbler mend my shoe…’ rhyme I’ll donate £100 to their favourite charity.”
Weaving approximately 3 miles through the streets of London’s famous Square Mile, John Timpson and his master cobblers will be accompanied by members of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers who will walk alongside the float collecting money for their various charities.
The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers is a London Livery Company that was once a trade association for the makers of pattens (these were undershoes of wood and metal strapped beneath their wearers’ shoes to raise them out of the mud and muck of London’s late medieval streets.)
Today, its members run The Pattenmakers Company Charitable Foundation, a registered charity with a wide range of charitable purposes.