College at 25 is 'stronger than ever'

The College of Optometrists celebrated its silver jubilee on Monday with a giant birthday cake and a gathering of past presidents and guests in Apothecaries' Hall.

The 18th president of the College, David Cartwright, is pictured cutting the celebratory cake (aided by the College's first president, Philip Cole) before going on to applaud the work of his predecessors, College staff and councillors.

'In 2005 the College is in a stronger position than ever,' said Cartwright, who commented that much had changed since the College was founded in 1980.

'Here the British Optical Association, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and the Scottish Association of Optometrists were founding a single institution,' he said. 'While this may not have had the global impact of other events [that year] it was a big deal for optics.'

Nigel Wingate, master of the SMC, said the College had put an end to the mistrust between the various optical bodies and the whole of the optical community owed a debt of gratitude to those whose efforts had brought it to life.

The number of optical bodies had been rationalised and now they worked very closely with one another. 'We could be celebrating not just the formation of the College but the dawning of a whole new era of improved relationships between the various interests in optics.'