Grandchildren of shoe shop founder tackle run in her memory

TWO GRANDCHILDREN of the founder of a York-based footwear company will run a half-marathon in her memory this weekend.

Catherine Kinloch Paver, who established Pavers, died from bowel cancer earlier this year at the age of 88.

Mrs Paver, who was originally from Scotland, founded the company in York in 1971 with a £200 loan she told the bank was to buy a new sofa. After selling at village halls and house parties, the first Pavers Shoe store opened in Scarborough, with shops in York, Hull and Newcastle following shortly after.

It is now one of the UK’s leading shoe retailers with more than 130 outlets in the UK and Ireland.

Brother and sister George and Francesca Paver will take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London on Sunday in memory of their grandmother.

Mr Paver, who currently works at Pavers, said: “We wanted to do a run in memory of our nana. We thought the Royal Parks Half would be perfect as it is helping raise money for Bowel Cancer UK – the horrible disease which affected our nana and so many other people.”

Miss Paver added: “When we run the half-marathon it will nearly be six months after the passing of our amazing nana.

“I always wanted to do something for charity in memory of my nana as throughout her life she gave to charity. The half-marathon seemed the correct thing to do as she always taught us to never give up, and running is not something I like in the slightest, so I think the fact it is going to be challenging makes it more apt to do in memory of her.”

The pair hope to raise more than £1,500. To donate visit www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ francesca-paver.