Norman Cregor

Frame designer Norman Cregor has died after a long and successful career in optics.

Starting as a back-room boy at Body's Opticians in Southend, he studied at City and East London College where he learnt how to make plastic frames. After joining Merx Optical in Southend, Cregor followed the firm in its relocation to Aylesbury, but left after a year to start his own company. Originally making hand-made plastic frames from a shed in his parents' garden, he went on to open a factory in Leigh-on-Sea employing 15 people.

In 1967 after marrying Rosalind, he opened a bigger factory making frames for the emerging fashion market. His clients included Oliver Goldsmith and Victor Jay.