One family is keeping up its Optical Traditions

Father-daughter duo at Runcorn opticians continues family tradition

Specsavers Runcorn is continuing the family tradition with a newly qualified optometrist trained by her own dad.

Izzy Jones, 22, has completed her pre-registration year in her home practice of Runcorn, under the supervision of her father, practice director Stuart Jones.

Specsavers offers many opportunities into optics, audiology, retail, and apprenticeships, and for Izzy, this was perfect.

Izzy says, “I’ve had a really enjoyable pre-registration year. Everyone, including my dad, has been really supportive. Runcorn has such a fantastic team at the practice, and after being away at university it has felt like a very homely place.

“It’s definitely helped that my dad has been at the practice for so many years and all of the customers seem to know him very well. We’re all like one big family and I’m very grateful to all my colleagues for their constant support. I’m very much looking forward to continuing to develop my skills now that I’m fully qualified.”

This isn’t the only family connection at the practice, it also boasts a brother and sister double act – Sophie Atherton, store director and Ollie Atherton, in audiology.

Stuart says: “At the beginning of the year I was a bit daunted by supervising my daughter, I have five children and I’ve done driving lessons with them all, so I know how hard it can be taking instructions from Dad! Thankfully though, Izzy’s been great to supervise, and it’s been lovely seeing the store’s family ethos grow.

“I opened the practice in 1994, which is almost 30 years ago, and we’ve always had family connections over the years. Even though we’ve got bigger, the family ethos in the practice is something customers appreciate, it’s the same vibe that we had when we started out.

“One of the most rewarding things about being at Runcorn since we opened is building long term relationships with patients over the years. I’ve known some patients since they started wearing spectacles as children and they now bring their own children for eye examinations.

“My daughter working alongside me as an optometrist seems a natural progression of that continuity.”