Testimonials for our Orthopaedic Footwear
A selection of testimonials from our customers
Dear Tony
Just to let you know that thanks to you this is the first time I have worn a dress since my accident, I felt confident in my new shoes and felt like a woman again. My husband actually said he had his old Ann back.
You will never know how I feel inside because of your kindness and understanding you are helping to give me some of my personality back and the shoes are worth every penny and more to feel like that again.
With fondest regards
Ann Paine xxxx
Case Studies - Irma's Story
Irma Pillay from the Seychelles was born with a stump and could never wear modern / fashionable footwear.
She came to London on holiday and passed the Special Footwear shop in New Cavendish Street.
She went in for a free consultation. Tony Andrews explained how they could design and make footwear suitable for her needs.
A week later she went in for a fitting. Tony Andrews made her a pair of black boots to accommodate her 
stump and a forepart to recreate her foot for balance. A second pair in brown was made later.
These boots really did change Irma’s life. Now she can confidently wear jeans without anyone noticing the difference.
Her self confidence grew, she met her boyfriend and now she’s married with a little boy! And all thanks to the generosity and skill of Tony Andrews and the Special Footwear team.
Case Study - Mike Luke
Skipper Mike Luke came to us as a yachtsman who had unfortunately been confined to cumbersome leg irons for over 20 years
to keep him mobile. This caused him great stress and inconvenience on his travels as he was in constant pain and discomfort.
Built in orthotics
We were able to fashion him a pair of trainers with built in orthotics to support his feet and stabilize him so that he had
no more need of the leg irons he had believed he would wear for the rest of his life. Mr. Luke walked out of our shop after
collecting his new trainers holding his irons in his hand. He has subsequently reported back to us that his life has
completely changed and that he now has much more confidence, not only on his yacht, but also socially and he finds
himself enjoying a night out in the Mediterranean much more frequently.
Mike's original boots
Mike's new shoes
Please contact us for more information.
Case Study - Barbara Hughes
Mrs Hughes approched our company in 2003 after finding out about us on the internet. She was really struggling to find
suitable shoes as she has narrow feet and severely pronating ankles which made it impossible to find any footwear that fit
and were comfortable. Also because of work she found it very frustrating not being able to wear smart shoes to suit the
professional environment in which she works. Mrs Hughes travels all over the world on business trips and was desperate
for help when she came to us.
Shoes in different styles and colours
Since her first visit when we made her a pair of office shoes she has been back to visit us from Canada many times and
has had a variety of shoes in different styles and colours made. She is thrilled to now be comfortable and look the
part in all her dealings with clients.
Please contact us us for more information.
Case Study - Mrs H, West Sussex
Mrs H has been a customer of Special Footwear for a number of years now. She came to us in desperation after having
had hospital boots made to accommodate for the fact that she had one leg significantly shorter than the other and
generally finding it impossible to find shoes that fit. Though the boots fit her well enough she was in dire need of a
pair of shoes she could wear that did not look like orthopaedic boots and could in fact be worn out on special occasions
without embarrassment. She had lost all hope of ever being able to wear shoes that were not clumpy, ugly and unfashionable.
Orthopaedic shoes need not be ugly
When she found out about us she made an appointment to come and see our shoemaker, not really believing that there was any
real possibility of finding what she was looking for. This was the first of many pairs of shoes for her.
Orthopaedic shoes for almost every occasion
Mrs H has now had shoes made for almost every occasion, black suede with gold trimming, black calf, navy and cream calf and
many other pairs as well. She is ecstatic to finally have beautiful, comfortable shoes that allow her to wear fashionable
clothing and do not limit her lifestyle.
Please contact us for more information.
Dear Mr Andrews
I am writing to let you know how your hand made boots have enhanced my Mother’s mobility. I think for the first time in her
life at the age of 87 she is walking upright, well balanced and with no discomfort. She was born with a club foot and as a
consequence her other foot had become deformed.
Before she met you she was taking morphine daily to ease the pain in her right foot; walking was painful and difficult. Now
her Doctor is slowly reducing this medication.
After only two months the ulcer on the side of her right foot has now completely healed and she is no longer plagued by hard
skin on her feet as your boots take into account all the pressure points.
Did Fate bring you to her? We saw your advertisement in the Saturday Telegraph last summer and we have never seen it again.
What a lucky day that was.
I have never seen my Mother’s face so bright for years and it makes your heart sing to see her as the strain of constant
pain has been lifted from her. Thank you again for transforming her life.
Mrs McMullan – April 2009
Dear Anthony
Thank you so much for my lovely shoes with all the trimmings. I have never had such comfortable shoes, and please thank all those who made them for me.
All good wishes
Yours Sincerely
Betty Field, Shropshire
Dear Mr. Andrews
I am writing to say how pleased I am with the shoes you made for me which have solved all my problems and are: flexible, light
and completely comfortable to wear. They are attractive and have been admired and most importantly disguise my disability as
much as is possible.
With Thanks
Yours Sincerely
Eva Silverman, West Midlands
I just want to tell you how thrilled I am with my two pairs of shoes. I feel my knee on my right leg trying to move
sideways and cause trouble with my back, but well-fitting shoes won’t permit it and now my pain-killers are much reduced.
Best wishes
Yours Sincerely
Heather Boothroyd, Cheshire
Dear Tony
I am just writing to say how much my life has changed since having my shoes made by you. Firstly I have had serious back pain all my life,
it has gone! I now stand and walk straight and do not dip when I walk. I have surprised my friends who thought I have had an operation on
my foot, as I can walk freely now. I feel so much more confident when I am walking in my shoes and the look and feel great. Don’t laugh,
but I call them my ‘Golden Shoes’.
Thanking you
Mrs. P Dallimore, Wimbledon
Dear Mr. Andrews
Just a brief note of thanks to you and your colleagues for the outstanding workmanship and service received from your company on
our recent purchase of shoes and accessories.
We have always been impressed with the quality of your shoes but this particular pair have such outstanding features of quality
and craftsmanship as to be worthy of a special note of thanks.
With kind regards
Pat Dunne, Norfolk
Dear Mr. Andrews
I want you to know how pleased I am with my new shoes and orthotics, they have changed my life. At last I am able to walk
again without pain. Once again thank you for your help and advice.
Yours Sincerely
Jane Turner, Surrey
Dear Mr. Andrews
I feel I must write to you to let you know how thrilled I am with those lovely shoes you made for me. It’s the first time I’ve
had happy feet since my beloved Brevetts stopped being made. I think it may be hard for you to believe that I’ve bought Barkers,
Churches, Rohde etc. etc. etc but none were ever really right.
Thank you for all the trouble you must have taken to produce these.
Yours Sincerely
Rosemary Henderson, Kent
Anthony and Staff
With my sincere thanks for very comfortable feet that has enabled me to do my own Christmas shopping this year (first time in four years).
I have worn my shoes every day since collecting them, they get better and better.
Thank you so much everyone.
Margaret McGaun, Herts
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