Geoffrey Leigh, author of Optician's Nemo column for more than 40 years, died on February 27, aged 82.
Leigh held the unusual, if not unique, distinction of being a pharmacist, an optometrist and a barrister. After qualifying first in pharmacy, he trained in Manchester to become an ophthalmic optician and his name appears in the first Opticians Register published in 1960. However, in the preceding years he also trained as a barrister and was appointed to the Criminal Appeal Office at the Royal Courts of Justice.
In 1961, Leigh joined The Society of Opticians, the protective body for corporate organisations, as its secretary. He continued in that role until 1985 when the society merged with the Guild of British Dispensing Opticians and the Co-operative Optical Services to form the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians. In the late 80s he practised optometry, at Boots Opticians in Epping, Essex. He was also an elected member of the GOC from 1967 to 1971.
Leigh wrote his first Nemo column for Optician in 1961 at the invitation of the then editor, the late WE Hardy, and continued to comment on optical politics for more than 42 years. Often controversial, his comments stimulated numerous letters to the editor throughout his long career in journalism. His final column appeared in January 2004 and is reproduced in this week's issue (page 13).
Aside from his optical appointments, he served as secretary of the Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry from 1971-86 and was mayor of the London Borough of Enfield in 1980-81. From 1987-1992, he was chairman of Enfield Petty Sessions Area.
In 1995, following his retirement, Leigh was awarded an MA in criminal justice from Brunel University and he continued to carry out legal work for the Lord Chancellor's department until his death.