David Stidwill receives honorary degree

An optometrist with over five decades in practice has been recognised with an honorary degree from Aston University.

Optometrist David Stidwill qualified in 1961 and has worked as a practitioner for over 50 years. He became a visiting lecturer at the university’s Department of Vision Sciences in 1972 and continues to have strong links with Aston.

He was treasurer and secretary of the Orthoptics Association, an examiner for the College of Optometrists and the representative optometrist to the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust (NHS).

Delivering his acceptance speech at the graduation ceremony in July, Mr Stidwill thanked his family, as well as his parents, both optometrists who qualified in 1930.

He told graduates: “In optometry, the career choices are now expanding. These include paediatric shared care, emergency eye treatment and now, independent prescribing status. In addition, there are careers in practice management and company management, PhD research opportunities and hospital eye services. Both in hospital and community practice, optometrists are able to take over an increasing range of treatments.”

Mr Stidwill concluded: “I would like to thank Dr Eperjesi, for his kind citation, my colleagues in vision sciences for their advice and support, and the university senate, for giving me this considerable honour.”