Richard Edwards: Looking back on 40 years in the industry

Anyone attending an optometry summer school during their university vacation probably has Richard Edwards to thank for a placement that will have shaped their optical career. The recently-retired consultant to the Optical Consumer Complaints Service (OCCS) is one of the best-known faces in UK optics. Edwards’ vast experience includes overseeing education and professional development at Boots Opticians for many years, participating in numerous professional bodies, 11 years of consultancy for OCCS and, more recently, delivering education and chairing industry discussions. 

His entry into optics may not even have happened if the world of professional football had been as lucrative as it is today. ‘I earned my spurs at that stage of my life by being a pretty good sportsman,’ says Edwards. ‘I certainly wasn’t academic.’