To celebrate New Balance’s 100 year anniversary, the factory has produced three limited edition trainers to honour three of its longest serving employees - Audrey Stewart, Ian Byers and Victor Dixon Between them,Audrey, Ian and Victor have been crafting footwear for over 70 years at the factory in Flimby. The three have been bestowed with the title of ‘Flimby Heroes’ and their portraits will feature on the new designs. The limited edition footwear will be distributed to fewer than 150 outlets worldwide and only 1906 (the year that New Balance was conceived) pairs will be produced in each style. | "I never dreamt I would actually appear on them" | | Audrey Stewart |
The longest serving Flimby Hero, Audrey Stewart has been working in the stitching department of the factory for almost 25 years and in the course of a regular day at work met Prince Charles as part of a Royal visit. She said: “I’ve been handling and making New Balance shoes for a quarter of a century. I never dreamt I would actually appear on them. It’s a great honour to be involved in the centenary celebrations in this way.” Ian Byers started at New Balance in 1982 and has been honing his skills as ‘toe and side laster’ ever since. Whilst Victor Dixon, whose finest moment was crafting Bryan Robson’s football boots, has been with the company since 1982.
 | | Stiching the trainers |
The portraits of the Flimby Heroes, were taken by by Dean Chalkley, Portrait Photographer of the Year in the Getty Images Picture Awards. | 
