Alec Coles - Cobbler

Portrait and interview - 1993

Alec lives in Torquay, where his father and grandfather before him had a cobbler’s in Factory Row, Castle Circus.  He has just completed his thirty-fourth year as a cobbler in his shop in The Narrows at the top of town.  His grandmother’s sister was the wife of the town sergeant - Jim Maddock.

Alec says there is still a demand for his old-fashioned style of business and so he has chosen not to change by updating his premises.  One London customer in particular enjoys seeing him at work and has expressed his dislike for the system where one deposits and collects shoe repairs via a hole-in-the-wall.

Alec has seen many changes in the town and says ‘people in particular have changed.  The pubs used to be open all day and on Tuesdays and Fridays, both market days, farmers could be seen everywhere, standing about and chatting.  Now customers are always in a hurry.  The government is against small traders; business rates are astronomical, and costs go on rising.  It’s just not the same any more.’ 

Update: Alec has since retired, and his Totnes business has closed down.