Echoes of the Past: Charting Norville's expansion

Norville is one of the most prominent names in the UK optical sector and over the years has evolved into a group of companies in manufacturing eyewear.

October 1975 saw its silver jubilee anniversary, which was celebrated in style with a 20-page supplement profiling the history of the company and where it was heading.

‘One cannot look at business in the short term, as a five-year wonder. The test is time,’ said managing director Frank Norville in his introduction.

Fellow optical industry luminaries were quick to offer their congratulations. ‘Only a few men have been able to give a new dimension to our profession. Frank Norville ranked among the best talented who found the needs of his customers and the right way to communicate this to others,’ said René Grandperret, director of Essilor International.