Simon Jones: Driven by passion

As Chris Bennett alludes to in his interview with Doug and Mary Perkins on the 40th anniversary of Specsavers, the multiple and its co-founders have taken criticism from some quarters of the optical sector.

Even if you’re one of a minority that, for whatever reason, has taken a dim view of Specsavers over the years, it’s nearly impossible not to be in awe of the impact the company and its co-founders have had on retail optics around the world over the course of the past four decades.

Since taking over as editor of Optician in September 2019, I’ve had numerous meetings and several dinners with Doug and Dame Mary. The one thing that strikes me every time is their passion for the optometry profession, even into their 80s.