Golden shoes for our golden girl

A WOODSETTS businessman has ensured that an Olympic champion will always be able to wear gold.

Peter Bullock, a shoemaker, has made a gold pair of brogues for Sheffield’s golden girl Jessica Ennis.

The 52-year-old presented them to the Olympic heptathlete at her homecoming, which saw thousands of people descend on Sheffield city centre earlier this month to welcome her home.

Peter had already made pairs of of bronze and silver lady’s shoes for the county’s athletes as they returned home from the London 2012 Olympic Game, when he was encouraged to make a gold pair.

He had them displayed in his shop - Peter’s Shoes, on High Street in Sheffield - when a regular customer saw them and suggested he made a gold pair to complete the set.

After hearing on local radio about items been made for Jessica for her return home, Peter rang in to say he was going to make and present her with a pair of handmade gold brogues.

Peter, who was born in Dinnington and learnt his trade on the village’s main street, and his team worked through the night to craft the shoes from gold coloured leather in time for the special event.

Peter said: “I went to the homecoming in Sheffield city centre and was invited by the council leader to present the shoes to Jess at the City Hall.”

“I was absolutely chomping at the bit to give these shoes away to our athletes because I’ve been so inspired by them.”

“I presented Jess with the shoes and said that I had to guess her size.”

“The idea is that if she doesn’t want them or doesn’t like them then she will sign them and we can auction them off for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, which I’m doing a lot of work for.”

Peter wanted to make the shoes for our athletes because he has been so inspired by what they had achieved at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The father-of-three added: “I’ve also made these shoes to thank the athletes for showing my daughters what it’s possible to achieve.”

After his golden moment, Peter is back getting his new factory with a shopfront, ready for its grand opening.