David Coram told over 40 members and friends the story of the retail shoe shop founded in the town by his father Ivor in 1950, which sadly closed last year.
Ivor was born in Exeter, left school and was apprenticed to a shoe repairer. His employer could not afford to keep him on afterwards and Ivor took premises in North Street, Crediton. He opened the shop in 1950, two weeks after marrying David's mother. On day one he sold one tin of shoe polish! At the time there were four other shoe shops in Crediton and the name ‘Spragues’ can still be seen in the tiling outside one at the top of the High Street.
Always doing a good job. Ivor’s reputation grew. 10 year old John Mason used to watch Ivor working, joined the firm when he left school and worked with them for 55 years. Other staff also stayed many years. Quickes warehouse in Exeter suggested selling shoes and offered him a boxful on sale or return.
Ivor moved to larger premises in the High Street and offered repairs and sales. They had to use the toilet at the Old Swan next
door and when it came on the market Ivor bought it. David’s mum died later that year when he was only 8 and Ivor struggled to
raise his family and run the shop. A lettered window from the Old Swan was kept by Ivor and can now be seen in the museum.
David joined the business in 1980, did a 5 year apprenticeship and became a partner in 1998. They spent a lot of money refitting the
shop in 1990 and in 1998 launched a website – probably the first in town. David subsequently opened shops in Sidmouth, Barnstaple and Cowick Street, Exeter. These were later disposed of and he settled back in Crediton. After their main product, Hotter shoes, opened their own shop in Exeter, sales plummeted and, when his son became ill, David decided to close down. He now works for Hospicecare selling on ebay.
David greatly amused his audience by a series of funny stories in the shop and whilst he was growing up. He was clearly a great practical joker and used this side of his character to good effect in his entrepreneurial role. He told of VIP customers and described technical changes in shoe manufacturing that are not always for the best. It was with great sadness that we heard a few weeks after the talk that Ivor had passed away. He will be very fondly remembered by many in the area and we extend our sympathies to David and his family in their sad loss.