The appointments are Cardiff-based optometrist Dick Roberts, who also serves on the General Optical Council, and Paula Stevens, a former dispensing optician who practises in Colchester, Essex. Only one optometrist, Nigel Wingate, chairman of Melson Wingate, has previously been appointed to the ABDO council. Association general secretary Malcolm Hunt said these two new appointments would broaden the scope of the council's activities. 'Council has been particularly keen to widen the background and experience of its members, to give its debates and deliberations a more widely informed base,' he said. 'At ABDO we are convinced the changes that will inevitably occur over the coming years will have a direct impact on everyone in optics. 'Business and industry are already represented and it was important for us to have an informed and reasoned optometric view reflected in our deliberations. These appointments fill this void.' Lay members Brian Mitchell and Steve Harris joined the council last year. ABDO's council has also unanimously elected Eric Hall as the association's next president. He will take over from Colin Lee at the body's annual general meeting in October and will serve for two years. Mr Hall has been ABDO's nominee on the board of the Eyecare Information Service for the past two years. He entered the optical profession when he became a trainee dispensing optician after National Service. Mr Hall gained his qualification through distance learning in 1969. He was elected chairman of his ABDO area in 1983 and a year later was elected to ABDO's council of management. Mr Hall served as ABDO's honorary treasurer for seven years and has sat on the house and finance committee, as well as the communication, continuing education and training committees.