Unidentified newsclip , 2005

Footwear tradition looks to the future.
Around the world, people wanting traditional Goodyear welted footwear still look to Northamptonshire. Sanders & Sanders Ltd of Rushden has been producing footwear for over 130 years and has developed a healthy demand from overseas. It specialises in formal shoes including military, ceremonial and equestrian footwear.

Brothers William and Thomas Sanders set up a boot making business in Rushden in 1873 with only a hand operated sewing machine to assemble the uppers. The uppers, together with a bundle of other components, were passed to outworkers who assembled the boots on cast iron lasts using tacks and nails. The finished product was heavy, stiff and probably not very comfortable! Although the boots were not attractive by modern standards, they were hard wearing and kept the feet dry in those days of unmade roads, deep puddles and mud for at least six months a year.

The business grew and the next fifty years saw the development of softer leathers and specialist machinery, so that by the 1920s footwear production became a mechanised industry. At the same time roads and public transport were improving, towns became cleaner and shoes began to replace boots.

The family business is now in its fourth generation and continues to produce high grade footwear at its factory at Spencer Road Rushden. Much of its products are exported abroad where the traditional stitched-together method of manufacture is highly regarded. It also has a long standing relationship with the British Armed Forces to whom it continues to supply officers' shoes and ceremonial boots.

In 2002 the firm acquired the Regent brand and now manufactures a wide range of horse riding boots and accessories. Recently, it was delighted to welcome Lee Pearson, Britain's triple Gold Medal winner at the Athens Paralympics. He was most complimentary about the Sanders Regent boots that he chose to wear for the three events.

Lee Pearson, Britain's triple Gold Medal winner at the Athens Paralympics with Henry Sanders, managing director of Sanders

One ot the firm's strengths has been commitment to consistent quality and on time delivery.

Managing director Henry Sanders says:
"The firm is now in its 132nd year; we have a healthy order book but need more people to enable us to fully meet the demand for our products. And as skilled workpeople retire it is not easy to attract replacements. From January we will be inviting applications from people willing to develop shoemaking skills - look out for the advertisement in this issue."