A chance encounter with a friend on the way to a DVD shop resulted in a chain reaction of events that changed Mark Newall’s life forever.
Mark, who lives in Okehampton, had lost his job in the licensing and catering industry and was looking for a career change, so his friend suggested he try for a role in the optical industry.
He liked the idea and embarked on a life-long career course that saw him work for a range of organisations before hearing about the opportunity to apply for a lab manager role at a new opticians store planned for Okehampton.
He got the job at Specsavers Okehampton, but his first day didn’t go as planned – with an on-the-job eye injury resulting in him having a trip to hospital.
Mark says: ‘I saw the job as a great opportunity for me, but it wasn’t the ideal start when I ended up being the store’s first patient to be examined by the optician–director Ian Wills.
‘I was unpacking equipment, a colleague passed a box to me at head height and it brushed my eye, resulting in a visit to the eye infirmary and having an eye patch for the first week of the store opening. I don’t know many lab managers who began their job like that.’
But the injury didn’t put Mark off his job, and he is now celebrating 25 years at the locally owned and run Okehampton store. In that time, he’s seen significant transformations within the industry.
He adds: ‘I’m 57 years young now and have experienced many amazing changes. When I first started at Specsavers Okehampton, the whole process in the store and the lab involved a lot of paper, including the use of a fax machine.
‘All prescription dispenses were handwritten and produced in triplicate, and lab orders were also handwritten onto order forms before being faxed to suppliers every day.
‘With technological advancements in machinery over the years and the introduction of computerised systems for dispensing and ordering lenses, everything has become a much more seamless and less time-consuming process.
‘In addition, lens options available for customers when we first opened were not as varied as they are now – no tailor-made varifocals, occupational lenses or lenses that cater specifically for an individual’s needs.
‘All these changes have speeded things up for the customers and made everything far more efficient. The benefits have been huge.
‘Who would have thought that a chance meeting with a friend years ago while walking to my local DVD film rental shop would have led me to such a long career in optics? Definitely not me.
‘But in the subsequent years, I’ve worked with some great people, and I’m proud to be part of a great team in Okehampton, serving the community for 25 years and looking forward to continuing in the future, providing them with great quality and service with their glasses.’
Kathryn Reynolds, Specsavers Okehampton director, paid tribute to Mark and his importance to the store.
She adds: ‘It’s great that Mark has been with the Specsavers family for 25 years. He has been here since the store opened and has seen so many changes in optics during that time.
‘I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him for the 10 years I have been working in this store, and he’s a central part of our team. It’s great to have a chance to show our appreciation of how much we have valued him and his commitment to our store.’
Further information about Specsavers Okehampton is available at www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/okehampton or by calling 01837 650970.
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