THE renowned K Shoes Male Voice Choir is to keep its famous name despite the demise of the shoe-making factories from which it took its identity, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

At the choir's annual meeting, members voted overwhelmingly to retain the name even though K Shoes are no longer manufactured in Kendal.

However, a question mark hangs over whether the long-standing arrangement of the choir being kitted out with K Shoes footwear will continue to be honoured, leading the chairman to quip that they may have to perform in their carpet slippers.

The name topic arose after it was announced that parent company Clarks was to close its last K Shoes factory in Kendal, the town which gave birth to the K Shoes brand. The factory shut earlier this month with the loss of 167 jobs.

The Westmorland Gazette launched its Keep K for Kendal campaign to try to persuade Clarks to cease using the K Shoes brand, which was originally conceived as a mark of quality and was taken from the town's initial letter.

Roger Kent, the chairman of the choir which was formed in 1969, said the vote went the way it did for a number of reasons: because the choir has an established reputation under that name; the K Shoes brand was continuing; and, more practically, because the choir has a supply of sweaters and other items with the K Shoes Male Voice Choir logo.

Mr Kent said the Grimethorpe Colliery Band was one example of a musical group that kept its name even though the colliery had shut.

"I don't think it's uncommon in musical circles to continue using a name for an organisation which is no longer in existence."

Mr Kent, who was recently interviewed about the choir's identity for a BBC Radio 4 programme, said it was not clear whether the tradition of the 50-member choir being supplied with K Shoes footwear would continue in the wake of the factory closure.

Choir founder member and former K Shoes worker Derek Halliwell said he had mixed feelings about the whole subject of the firm's and the choir's name. Although his father brought up six children on his K Shoes wages, Clarks ultimately closed the famous factories.

The first tenor, who worked for K Shoes for 31 years, said: "I have spoken to a lot of people in Kendal and they have said exactly the same thing keep the name."

He said he believed that the choir should "hang on to its name as long as we can".

May 23, 2003 10:00