THE sons of a celebrated mountaineer who wore a pair of K Shoes hob-nailed boots during a famous assault on Everest have lent their backing to the Keep K for Kendal campaign, writes Michaela Robinson-Tate.

James and David Somervell, the two surviving sons of Dr Howard Somervell, said they were pleased to support the campaign in memory of their father, who climbed more than 28,000 of the mountain's 29,048 feet wearing the boots, which had been made to measure at Netherfield.

Howard Somervell, who was born and bred in Kendal, was part of the renowned 1924 expedition to scale the world's highest mountain. Two other team members, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, perished on the mountain, leaving a mystery as to whether they reached the summit.

Dr Somervell managed his remarkable feat wearing tweeds, and the boots, which are now on display in Kendal's Museum of Lakeland Life.

His surviving sons have backed Keep K for Kendal, which is being run by The Westmorland Gazette and Kendal Town Council, to urge Clarks to cease using the K for Kendal logo, in the wake of the decision to shut the last shoe-making factory in the town.

David Somervell said: "One doesn't want to run one's life on traditions, because then one makes no progress, but I can't say I have any great love for Clarks, which is one of these large companies that gobble up other companies and sell off the assets."

His brother, James, accepted Clarks had bought the rights to the name but said he was "delighted" to lend his name to the campaign.

An approach by the town council to Clarks over the brand name failed to "prick their consciences".

Mayor of Kendal Coun Avril Dobson read out the company's reply at this week's council meeting. The letter stated that Clarks was "somewhat surprised" by the town council's comments, and they suspected few people apart from Kendalians knew what the K stood for.

Coun Dobson said: "We thought it the letter might prick their consciences a bit but I don't think they have one."

Clarks said they had nothing new to say about the brand name this week.

Meanwhile, managers at Clarks say D-Day for a firm commitment on when precious archive material could be returned to Kendal is now imminent.

By next week they hope to have the latest information from their part-time archivist on how much cataloguing has been done, and when the first batch of documents could be sent home to the town.

The news comes in the wake of renewed calls, made as part of The Westmorland Gazette's Hand Back our Heritage campaign, for the return of archive material and artefacts that were removed to Clarks's headquarters in Somerset in 1996.

The shoe firm has agreed to return archives, which fill more than 50 metres of shelving, which would be housed in the County Records Office. However, Clarks is adamant that cataloguing work must be carried out first.

Clarks spokesman John Keery said they hoped to come up with a estimated timescale next week: "There's no reason for us to keep it particularly. It's not a priority for us but we will have a look and see how quickly we can resolve it."

Jan 24: Keepa the K in Kendal Shoes campaign launched

A STINGING attack has been launched on footwear giant Clarks against its "shameful" continued use of the K Shoes trademark in the wake of the controversial decision to end shoe making in Kendal, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

Campaigners are urging the firm to drop the world-famous K for Kendal logo, which was first used as a guarantee that goods were of top quality.

The calls this week received the unanimous backing of Kendal town councillors who have joined forces with The Westmorland Gazette to launch the Keep K for Kendal campaign.

The campaign, which urges Clarks International to give up its use of the trademark, has already received the backing of Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins.

"If the company decide they don't want to be associated with the town of Kendal any more they should not pretend otherwise in their marketing," he said.

"There's a real risk that people will assume in future years if they are buying K Shoes they are buying shoes made in this country, and the town of Kendal."

In the wake of 167 job losses and the closure of the last shoe-making factory in the town expected later this year, Kendal town councillors said it was "hypocritical" of the company to continue to benefit from the trademark.

In a letter to Clarks chief executive Peter Bolliger, which arrived at the firm's Somerset headquarters this week, the Mayor of Kendal, Coun Avril Dobson, said: "Would you not agree with me that it would be at best fundamentally disingenuous and hypocritical and at worst totally shameful and dishonest if your company, whose reputation has been built on the skills and endeavours of Kendalians, were to continue to benefit from the use of the K trademark?"

Coun Dobson told the Gazette it was wrong of Clarks to use the trademark when the shoes were no longer made in England, let alone Kendal. The firm has three remaining factories in the UK, including 42 workers at Millom, but most of its products are bought in from countries including India and China.

"I know legally Clarks are entitled to use it, they bought it, but we think morally they should have a re-think," Coun Dobson told the Gazette.

"Now we are no longer making shoes in Kendal there's very strong feeling about it."

Coun Dobson had earlier told fellow town councillors the K logo meant quality, but would now be used for shoes made in countries where there were low wages and no health and safety regulations comparable to this country.

Coun Austen Robinson suggested the famous K might still function to promote the town. However, making shoes in countries abroad for a "pittance" in Kendal's name was the kind of publicity that Kendal did not need, said Coun Jean Ewing.

Clarks bosses have already said they will continue to use the brand on specific products. John Keery for Clarks reiterated his view that many people outside Kendal did not know what the K represented. However, customers recognised the brand for its quality.

"We will be making sure products we brand K will be good quality, good fit and good value for money."

Mr Collins planned to table a series of Parliamentary Questions this week asking if Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt would visit Kendal, and respond to his previous request to meet a delegation from the town. He also wanted to know if rules could be changed to qualify the town for economic assistance grants.

Mr Collins has also met Cumbria Inward Investment Agency chief executive Jack Stopforth, who told the MP the agency was working to ensure the best economic use was made of the firm's Natland Road site. It was possible Clarks might expand warehousing in the town, he said.

Campaigners are also continuing to press Clarks for the return of K Shoes archive material and artefacts that were removed to Somerset in 1996. The request was first made as part of the Gazette's Hand Back our Heritage campaign launched in 2000.

Jonathan Somervell, a member of the founding K Shoes family, said that it would be a good time for Clarks to show "some commitment to the town" by fulfilling an agreement of two years ago to return archive material - which fills more than 50 metres of shelving - to the town, to be housed at the County Records Office.

Mr Keery said the agreement had always depended on proper cataloguing first being carried out by Clarks, and this work was still taking place.

February 10, 2003 16:30