Barratts always reminds me of the later years of primary school, before the days of shaving and pus-ridden acne, but just as you were becoming aware of clothes and caring about your appearance. During this period, shoes from Barratts were the ultimate humiliation, particularly if they came from the infamous \"Back to School\" selection.\n\nCheap and nasty, you could perhaps get away with a pair of black school shoes but there was no hiding if you got caught with Barratt trainers. As a posh, stuck-up and nasty little brat I never did, but John Howe \"the benefits kid\" never lost his nickname, though he didn't help the situation by continuing to eat Iceland own-brand crisps all through high school.