The story of my ancestors is predominantly a story of two occupations, shoe making and farming.
The Rushins of Anstey were involved in the shoe and leatherworking trade right up until my Grandfather, John Joseph. Even my Father, Charles Edward, worked in a shoe factory for some time and could work with leather. One Christmas he made all of his children cowboy outfits from scrap pieces of leather from his work. A few years later I wore leather trousers he made, when riding pillion on his motorcycle and sidecar combination, travelling betwen Leicestershire and Sussex.