Nick Rumney awarded honorary fellowship

Optometrist Nick Rumney has been awarded an honorary fellowship “in recognition of his services to the profession of dispensing optics” by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

The fellowship is an accolade awarded to people who the association feels have made “an outstanding contribution” to the profession. It has only been awarded to 17 individuals since ABDO was founded in 1986.

Mr Rumney received his honorary fellowship during a board dinner for the association. Recognising the optometrist’s contributions, ABDO said: “Your support and active contribution in promoting the role and raising the profile of dispensing opticians, your encouragement towards training and development of the role of dispensing opticians in practice, as well as your ongoing commitment to the profession are greatly appreciated.”

Reflecting on the fellowship, Mr Rumney said: “Although my role at BBR Optometry is primarily that of a clinical optometrist, it is important that we never leave our roots and as a third generation optometrist this resonates.

“My grandfather started in optics before the First World War when it was very much concentrated on the dispensing and manufacturing of spectacles. In fact, my first job was in manufacturing spectacles. As such I have remained in touch with the dispensing of high quality spectacles ever since."