Okehampton optician marks 25 years of service after extraordinary first day on the job

A man who suffered an eye injury on his first day at work has recently marked a quarter century at an opticians in Okehampton.

Mark Newall, who lives in the town, began working at the newly opened Specsavers store in Okehampton 25 years ago after changing careers. 

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He had previously worked in the licensing and catering industry before being encouraged by a friend to try a role in optics.

Mr Newall said he heard about a vacancy for a lab manager at the Okehampton store shortly before it opened and decided to apply.

“I saw the job as a great opportunity for me,” he said. “But it wasn’t the ideal start when I ended up being the store’s first patient.”

On his first day, Mr Newall was injured while unpacking equipment.

“A colleague passed a box to me at head height and it brushed my eye,” he said. 

“That resulted in a visit to the eye infirmary and having to wear an eye patch for the first week of the store opening. I don’t know many lab managers who began their job like that.”

Despite the incident, he remained in the role and has now worked at the locally run Okehampton store for a quarter of a century.

ABOVE: Mark when he started at the Specsavers Okehampton store (Image: Tigerbond/Specsavers)

Mr Newall said he had seen major changes in the optical industry during that time.

“When I first started, everything was paper-based,” he said. 

“Prescriptions were handwritten, copies were made in triplicate and lab orders were faxed to suppliers every day.”

He said advances in technology had transformed the way the store operates.

“Now everything is computerised, from dispensing to ordering lenses,” he said. 

“It’s much quicker, more efficient and gives customers far more choice than was available when we first opened.”

Mr Newall added that lens options have expanded significantly over the years, with more personalised products now available.

Looking back, he said a chance meeting had shaped his working life.

“Who would have thought that bumping into a friend on the way to a DVD rental shop would lead to a career like this?” he said. 

“I’ve worked with some great people and I’m proud to have served the Okehampton community for 25 years.”

Kathryn Reynolds, a director at the Okehampton store, said Mr Newall had played an important role since it opened.

“He has been here since the beginning and has seen so many changes in optics,” she said. 

“He’s a central part of our team, and it’s important to recognise the commitment he’s shown over the years.”