A Life in Shoes: Cliff "Spyder" Edwards - Interviews - Online Blog for Loake Shoemakers

A Life in Shoes: Cliff “Spyder” Edwards

After nearly 50 years at Loake, this month we say farewell to Cliff Edwards, better known around the factory as “Spyder”, who retires after five decades on the factory floor.

He joined in June 1976, straight from school, after a chance conversation with an old school friend led him through the factory doors. What followed was a working life spent entirely in shoemaking.

Over the course of his career, Cliff is estimated to have worked on more than 12 million pairs of shoes. In practical terms, that’s around 13,200km of leather passing through his hands, which is roughly the distance between Kettering and Perth, Australia!

What many people don’t realise is that alongside making the shoes themselves, Cliff is also the artist behind the hand-painted Union Jack display lasts seen in Loake stores around the world.

Starting Out

Cliff still remembers those early days clearly. “I started on inking. There was a man on every machine. Racks everywhere. My first wage was £20. I gave my mum a fiver!”

The nickname ‘Spyder’ came not long afterwards.

“I was into Marvel comics. One of the lads said, ‘he’s Spider-man, he is,’ and it stuck. Then it got shortened to Spyder. In the 70s, everyone had a nickname.”

Learning on the Job

Cliff began on inking, later moving into setting. Edge-trimming was a skill he learned later in his career. “When I first started, that was the job you were aiming for,” he says. “I was proud when I finally mastered that.”

It’s also the advice he would give to anyone starting out now: “Learn as much as you can. Pick up different skills from people around you.”

When asked what makes a Loake shoe special, Cliff’s answer is simple: “Just quality, isn’t it. Style and quality.”

Cliff remembers a time when Loake shoes were part of something bigger beyond the factory.

“With the Northern Soul nights, everyone wanted tassel loafers. Specifically, the Loake ‘Brighton’ in Oxblood. Either that or long-wing brogues. It was huge back then. I always tried to make them look right, because I knew where they were going.”

He still goes to the occasional soul night now… “just not the all-nighter anymore.”

The Golf Days

Away from the factory, Cliff also played a big part in organising Loake’s golf socials.

“We had the first one in 1997 at Stoke Albany. I won it – never won it since though, ha. It’s a great way of bringing people together.”

Nearly Five Decades

Cliff’s time at Loake has spanned a period where much of the British shoe industry has changed significantly.

“In the ‘70s there were loads of factories in this area. Sadly, quite a few have shut. This place has just kept going.”

“They’ve done me proud, keeping me in work all my life. I’ve met a lot of good friends here.”

What’s Next

Retirement will give him time to slow things down and pick up a few old interests again.

“I’ve got a dog, so I’ll be relaxing.”

“As well as time around the garden and decorating, there’s music too. I play guitar and piano. I’m just a bedroom jammer.”

“I want to get my art stuff down from the loft and start that back up again.”

He paints in watercolours and pastels and even had a painting of Phil Mitchell featured in The Sun newspaper for an Eastenders anniversary… “I got £50 and my name in the paper,” he says.

Q: What advice would you give to someone starting at Loake today?

A: “Learn as much as you can. Pick things up from people around you. It’s good to gain experience and learn new skills.”

Q: How would you sum up your time here?

A: “A blast. Hard work, but enjoyable.”

Brendon Drage-Dawes, Loake’s Head of Production added:

“I’ve worked on the factory floor with Spyder, so first and foremost I want to thank him for his friendship. Thank you as well for 50 years of service, and for the knowledge you’ve passed on to the next generation. You’ve played a big part in the Loake golf days, and your work has travelled far beyond the factory too, with the display lasts you’ve painted for the stores. You’ve been a major part of the team, and you’ll be greatly missed in production… unlike your bad jokes!”

From everyone at Loake, we wish Cliff a long and well-earned retirement.