A business stalwart who was behind measuring most of Ipswich for their first shoes has been remembered as a kind, gentle cobbler with a twinkle in his eye.
Countless Ipswich residents will remember visiting Watson’s Shoe Shop in Heath Road.
Basil Watson, who ran the shop until he was 73, has died aged 94.
“He had a sparkle about him,” said Basil’s grandson, Jamie Craigie-Williams. “He was a very kind man, and full of mischief.”
Basil Watson was born in Swilland on April 11, 1928, to parents Stanley and Edith.
The family later moved to Parkeston Quay in Harwich, shortly before Basil turned 10.
As a child, he was often to be found playing by the pond behind the family home, and out in the woodland with his sisters, Evelyn (‘Evvie’) and Edith (‘Dudie’).
After leaving school, Basil worked on a funfair for a time, which was where he met the love of his life, Phoebe Coltham.
Basil was utterly smitten, and kept offering Phoebe free turns on games at the fair in an effort to win her over. At first, Phoebe rebuffed Basil’s offers, but she was unable to resist his charm for long.
The couple tied the knot in 1947 and were married for more than 60 years.
Basil had also spent his early adulthood working as a military batman, a personal attendant to a commissioned officer. Batmen's duties included conveying orders, maintaining their officer's uniform and sometimes driving their vehicles. Fortunately, Basil’s assigned officer treated him well, and he enjoyed his time here.
Basil then trained as a cobbler, starting his working life in Tacket Street in Ipswich.
“He was excited that the first job he was given was to re-sole 400 shoes for the RAF. He’d never seen so many shoes!” said Jamie.
The young Basil was full of ambition, and asked Mr Grimwade of the well-known Grimwades store for a loan with which to start his own business.
Mr Grimwade, said Jamie, was impressed that Basil had the courage and the confidence to approach him, Mr Grimwade being such a prominent figure in Ipswich.
He decided to take a chance on Basil, who used the loan to open his first shoe shop business in the Whitehouse area of Ipswich.
However, most Ipswich residents will remember him from Watsons Shoe Shop in Heath Road, which he opened during the late 1960s. He and Phoebe also opened a launderette in Woodbridge Road, and ran the two businesses between them.
“He specialised in adapting shoes for people who had come out of hospital, or who had extra requirements for their shoes,” said Jamie.
Many of these people had never owned a comfortable pair of shoes before, and Basil went above and beyond to meet all of his customers’ individual needs.
Many Ipswich residents met Basil as small children being measured for their very first pair of shoes. Basil became known for his gentle approach, and his knack for soothing nervous youngsters.
Basil and Phoebe welcomed three children together, David, Christine and Janet. They were later thrilled to become grandparents eight times over, and then great-grandparents, and even great-great grandparents.
“I would love sitting there quietly in his workshop, watching him with leather on shoes,” remembered Jamie. “We didn’t need to talk, we were just comfortable being together, watching him work his magic.”
In his spare time, Basil had a real affinity with dogs. For many years, he owned an enormous Show Chamption red setter named Flash. Basil entered dog shows such as Crufts, and also kept show poodles
He was a great music lover, too. He had played the organ for many years at his local church, and was a great Jim Reeves fan.
Above all, Basil was a family man, and will be much missed by children, grandchildren, and many friends.
Basil Watson died on March 25, 2023.
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