I can't tell you how grateful I am for your detailed reply Phil, and for the photograph which brought tears to my eyes. Now I know why my mother had painful feet for as long as I can remember, and why she always insisted that my sister and I had our feet measured for new shoes. She used to say "take care of your feet, and they will take care of you" !! They were always so reticent about their childhood and, I'm ashamed to say, I am only now learning about the hardships they endured. But they turned out to be good and loving parents - as most true Brummies from those days did, always wanting their children to have better lives than they had. Thank you again Phil