| Abstract | Captain Charles Simms of the Mediterranean Fleet after his retirement visited the Industrial Fair in Germany where he was looking for a gadget to occupy him in his retirement. It was at this time stiletto heels were in fashion,
made of wood and always splitting. He was interested in a small machine at the shoe section and the official in charge mistook him for an Englishman connected with shoes. After this introduction he became very interested and returned from Germany with a contract to manufacture an unbreakable heel. He invented the metal heel and started a small factory for the manufacture of these heels and became quite well known in the shoe journals.
Mr Sycamore of Brightlingsea, one of Mr Paxman's team for winning the war, was a great friend of Captain Simms and after his retirement used to visit the Club for dinner and a chat over old times.
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