Manufacturing almost 5,000 chairs per day at its peak, it is unsurprising that High Wycombe’s history is synonymous with the furniture industry. Aided by the flowing tributaries of the river Wye, 18th century carpenters used beech to produce wooden chairs for wealthy Londoners.
Despite a decline in the local furniture trade, the Buckinghamshire town continues to observe certain traditions; it is still the only place in the UK that weighs its mayor at the beginning and end of every year.
Situated approximately 34 miles from the capital, the hometown of former British PM Benjamin Disraeli is the second largest settlement in the county, owing to a large commuter population.
It was Disraeli himself who once said that the secret of success is constancy to purpose. And, Ahmed Hilmi, owner of Redgate Opticians and Audiologists, has come to personify this thought after overcoming several obstacles on the way to opening an independent practice in High Wycombe.
‘Gazumped’ by property owners on two separate occasions, the optometrist finally secured a location for his practice in early September and believes he has responded to a local demand for ‘something different’. For instance, Hilmi and his partner, Rabbia Sheikh, have made their practice child-friendly by lowering mirrors and display frames. ‘Even the tables are lower,’ remarks Hilmi.
The couple also kept disabled access in mind when designing their new surroundings. Hilmi describes how investing in a slit lamp connected to a hydraulic table benefits his disabled patients. ‘They like the fact that they can stay in the chair and we can still do everything as normal,’ he says.
Despite being able to see the competition ‘from his window’, Hilmi has been encouraged by the volume of patients his team have seen in the opening three months.
‘We’ve been a lot busier than we expected. We thought we’d open and get a few people coming in, but we’re surprised at how many people came in. It’s really promising and gives us the motivation to keep going,’ says Hilmi.
‘High Wycombe is a great place to work. It’s a warm and friendly, multicultural town’, says Asda optical manager Parminder Bhachu (pictured).
His supermarket practice is located on the outskirts and treats a mixture of patients, with most over 60.
Having opened in 2016, Bhachu says his team benefits from using the latest optical equipment. In particular, he describes how the Nidek AFC 330 Fundus camera intrigues patients visiting his practice. ‘It’s a great piece of equipment to have. Our customers are always interested in having a look at what the back of their eye looks like – it adds to their eye test experience,’ says the optical manager.
Who’s in town
Total: 9
Independents: 3
Multiples: 6
Average costs
The price of an eye exam in High Wycombe ranged from £19 to £38, generating an average cost of £20.22.
Population
Wycombe population 176,868 (ONS 2017)
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Buckinghamshire Local Optical Committee has secured a contract for Chiltern CCG in Glaucoma Repeat Readings and Cataract Referral.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in High Wycombe is £401,304 (Zoopla) compared with a UK average of £223,257 (Land Registry, 2017)
- High Wycombe has an average salary of £26,812 (PayScale, 2017)
- In 2015, there were 3,440 people living with diabetic retinopathy in Wycombe (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool 2015)
- There were an estimated 1,650 people living with late stage age-related macular degeneration in 2016 (RNIB)
- It is estimated that, by 2025, there will be 2,250 people living with cataracts in Wycombe (RNIB)
Fact file
Following a riot at a paper-making mill in November 1830, hundreds of workers were deported to Tasmania, Australia. Employees took up placards when bosses introduced technology that would have resulted in job cuts.
Wycombe Wanderers is the only football club to have reached the semi-finals of both the League Cup and FA Cup when in the lower two leagues.
Top-selling author Terry Pratchett was educated at John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe.
During the Second World War, furniture factories in Wycombe made aircraft components. Tiger Moth and De Havilland Mosquito parts were made by skilled furniture workers.
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