On the wall at Rushden Museum, are the Honours Boards from Rushden Boot and Shoe College, showing all those who gained Distinctions in the annual awards.

In 1971 the CGLI Bronze medal, the NCC Merit award, and the Elkington Diploma, were all awarded to Mrs Timms - the only lady named on the boards.

In 2025 Mrs Timms visited the museum with her son, Grant, to see the boards. [see picture right]

Diane started in the boot & shoe industry straight from school in the late 1950s, when she joined her mum to work at Tecnic. Diane went on to the John White training school, by the Lightstrung [28 Church Street], and graduated to John White’s closing room.

After this she went to Grenson’s, where she asked if she could go to the Boot and Shoe College on the Higher course, an unusual request. At the interview, because she had earlier attended the Wellingborough Technical College, she was accepted onto to Higher Course, with Grenson’s funding her training.

The course was undertaken at Rushden Boot and Shoe College, at the corner of Rectory Road and Victoria Road, attending one day per week. Diane borrowed books from the library, swotted up, and “picked the brains” of engineers at Grenson’s. After a year, she sat the written exams and passed, obviously excelling by gaining 3 awards!

After her success, Grenson’s asked her to be a trainee supervisor in the closing room, then graduating to full supervisor of over 100 women.

Diane was very pleased to see the boards in the museum, as she had never seen them before! Quite a special visit to the museum for her.