Specsavers’ lens manufacturing site, Vision Labs, gave a tour to Princess Anne, who commemorated the occasion with a plaque.
Princess Anne spoke to employees at the facility, alongside other attendees, including Dame Mary Perkins; Wyre Forest MP, Mark Garnier; the Mayor of Kidderminster, councillor Kevin Gale; the High Sheriff of Worcestershire, Andrew Manning-Cox; and members of the county and district councils and Chamber of Commerce.
Vision Labs general manager Lee Timbrell said it was a huge honour to welcome The Princess Royal and to show her round the premises: ‘We are extremely proud of what we’ve achieved here, especially after the challenges we faced due to the pandemic, when we were forced to close for a short period of time.
‘We have a large, diverse workforce and are investing millions of pounds to maintain our manufacturing and distribution within the UK, making a vital contribution to the British economy at a time when times are tight for everyone. A visit from The Princess Royal is fantastic recognition for all of our hard-working colleagues and certainly lifts the spirits on a cold spring morning.’
Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins commented: ‘The Princess Royal was absolutely charming and showed great interest in what we do at Vision Labs. She was extremely knowledgeable, asked lots of questions and showed genuine interest in all the people she met during her visit.’