[1] Its biggest successes came when the grandson of the founders Edward Rayne took charge of the firm in 1952, with further international expansion and strong markets in the United States and France.

[8] In 1936 – during the height of the Depression – the company sought to raise additional share capital in order to fund expansion of manufacturing capacity and capitalise on an agreement with Delman of New York.

[9] In 1951, the shareholders' meeting reported increased profits of £72,070, despite difficult world trading conditions and rumours of a proposed reduction in UK purchase tax.

A pair of flat pumps with a bow originally designed for the actress Gertrude Lawrence had remained the company's bestselling line for 50 years, worn by society and theatricals alike.

Excluded from war service because of his poor eyesight, he had undertaken a long apprenticeship at H. & M. Rayne's factory in King's Cross.

[12] Stage designer Oliver Messel was enlisted to create the interior of the new Delman-branded store for H. & M. Rayne in Bond Street in 1960.

[13] The Rayne brand's reputation for supplying shoes to royalty continued; at the marriage of Princess Margaret to Messel's nephew Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, the senior female royal party (Queen Mother, Queen, Princess Margaret) were all clad in Rayne shoes.

[13] Four years later, Vivier began selling Rayne brand shoes in his Rue François store in Paris.

[16] The company also stayed in tune with mainstream direction of fashion – Mary Quant shoes were first displayed in its flagship store.

[5] Debenhams was sold to Burton Group in 1985, and two years later Rayne was acquired by the businessman David Graham and his wife Rose.