Chris Bennett: Basking in the glow of being a winner

Standing on stage in the Hilton Hotel holding aloft an Optician Award while hugging family, friends and colleagues as camera flashes bounce off the gleaming trophy was how all of the finalists at this year’s Award must have hoped the evening would end.

As ever there can only be so many winners as there are awards. For the 16 victors April 1, 2017, will go down as an unforgettable night. Those winners will feature in Optician this week, in our celebratory supplement next week and the profiles to follow through the summer. But we must not forget the achievement of the 70 or so people, practices and products that made it to the shortlists.