Wiseman winner announced

Alexander Durie has been recognised as the highest achiever in the most challenging exams of the Spectacle Makers' Company. He will be awarded the Wiseman Memorial Fund Prize in recognition of excellence in manufacturing optics.

Durie, who works at Shrewsbury independent Ellerker Opticians, said: 'Steve Ellerker sponsored me to take the course and I really enjoyed it.

The exams were very good as they encourage you to understand the physics of the lenses and the coating materials. It was certainly more in-depth than I was expecting.' The Level 4 Optical Technicians' Diploma Examinations were this year completed by 36 students. Durie will be presented with the prize at Apothecaries' Hall, London, in October.