John MILLER is one of the UK’s finest shoe-makers, ensuring royalty and VIPs are exquisitely and comfortably shod, training up the next generation of designers and teaching his trade all over the world as CEO of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, one of the oldest remaining livery footwear companies of the City of London. He was born in East London in 1929, the son of a shoemaker, one of 12 children – John’s father made boots and shoes in the basement of their rented house. On the last day of the WWII, John, who was 14, walked into a Hackney shoe factory that made military footwear. In 1952 he was working at Richmond Shoes and married Irene, his sweetheart since their early teens. They spent together 60 years. As the lecturer at Cordwainers College he trained young Jimmy CHOO. Later he made Princess Anne's riding boots for the 1976 Olympics. As the manager of Rayne shoes, holder of the Royal Warrant, John was heavily involved in the making shoes for Princess Diana, worn on her tours to Australia and South Africa. He also made shoes for former Prime Minister Margaret THATCHER. He was supposed to retire in 1991, but continued to lecture to cobblers around the world, including FIT and Bata Company in Toronto. Today he lives in his house in Colchester, has two sons as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.