"Cobbler, cobbler mend my shoe, get it done by half-past two, if half-past two is not so late, get it done by half-past eight". This quaint, little nursery rhyme sums up the busy life and work of Mr. Arlington Salters, a humble village shoemaker.

Mr. Arlington Salters was born in Ottleys Village in 1913 on the eve of the First World War. With just an elementary education and a burning ambition to succeed in life he intuitively learnt the skill of repairing shoes, earning himself an occupation which fitted him for life. When times were hard and a pair of leather shoe was a prized possession to cherish, this humble shoemaker was a life saviour to many a poor mother who could not find the money to buy a new pair of shoes. That is why Mr. Salters will be best remembered as a skillful shoemaker who could work miracles on the worst looking pair of shoes, restoring them to their original hue and shine.

He approached his work with dedication, diligence and a commitment to serve and provided a service even at times without reward. Many nights Mr. Salters could be seen working until late at his workbench pouring over a damaged pair of shoes trying in earnest to get them ready for that special occasion. Often times it was customary to witness customers waiting at his shop stranded in one shoe waiting for him to do a quick repair on their shoe which had just been damaged. On these occasions hammer, tacks and brads would join forces with nimble hands to repair the wounded shoe in time for that special occasion. Apart from his main occupation as a shoemaker, Mr. Salters tried his hand at most and many things. He had a passionate love for sports and very often would engage in lengthy discussions on the fortunes and failures of West Indian Cricket. This passion and love was also manifested in one of his creative pastimes, that of making model airplanes. As a matter of fact his handiwork won him high acclaim at a local exhibition held somewhere around the late 60's.

Many will remember his tasty stone-oven baked bread when he operated as village baker, a sideline which earned him a decent livelihood. As if this was not enough, he built a cassava mill for the purpose of providing cassava meal for the making of our traditional cassava bread, a commodity which was to prove essential when flour boats stopped coming during the Second World War. His plot of land which he cultivated in the hills provided the village with a steady supply of cassava from his mill.

Between all these activities Mr. Salters still found time to father his ten children, providing them with love and care, tempered with a firm hand of discipline. Mr. Arlington Salters life was one of dedication and service to his community.