What are your favourite aspects of the job?

I even enjoy meeting the odd one or two who don't like them or don't understand

what they're about. Now too, I hear a lot of stories about where people have been

in their Holy Socks. Someone once came up to the stand and said "I've got a pair

of Holy Socks. I wore them on the Great Wall of China." There are also the things

you can't talk about. The very private things which people share with you.

It's a privilege to be able to listen.

Equally I enjoy working on the website without the phone ringing or any other

interruption. Technology allows you so much scope and it's a bit like Holy Socks,

you send it out there into the ether and you never know who's picking it up.


I also like the thought that Holy Socks are sold in many Cathedrals throughout

the UK. We're in York and Lincoln Minsters, Gloucester and Wells Cathedrals,

as well as Iona and St. Giles in Edinburgh. These buildings have been places of

worship for hundreds of years and will still be for many years to come. It's

humbling to think of all the people who have walked through those buildings over

the centuries and that Holy Socks are now a part of that long heritage and,

hopefully, future.


Our son and his girlfriend are responsible for the original art work for the designs.

Then its over to our manufacturers in Leicestershire. They have the challenging

job of transfering the design to the sock and of course there are the colours

to be decided upon. Finally there's the leaflet to be written.


The surprises - you never know who's going to phone you or email you to tell you

why they want Holy Socks for a special occasion or a little gift for someone

who's going through a rough patch or is celebrating something. Then there's

the surprising e-mail from the Dumfries Courier asking me to answer these questions.