SPECSAVERS NEW MALDEN ophthalmic director, Dr Zimar Sivardeen and his team marked the late Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee year in a unique way.
Dr Sivardeen is raising awareness of global eye care in his position as Chairman of Commonwealth Future, an independent organisation he founded in 2018. The aim of which is to transform the lives of more than 2.4 billion people around the Commonwealth, by focusing on optimising sight and ensuring that care is available to everyone.
The long term vision is to establish a research centre and database for eye care, along with setting up a ‘Think Tank’ to collectively bring together eye care experts from around the world, so they can share insights and learnings which will help in developing practical solutions and ultimately help shape policy and best practice.
Dr Sivardeen has over twenty five years practicing as an optometrist and is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth. In his capacity as Chairman, he hosted the ‘Commonwealth Future Jubilee Dinner’ at The Caledonian Club in London on September 16th 2022.
Dr Sivardeen said; ‘The theme for the event was ‘A celebration of the Commonwealth and the contribution made by HM Queen Elizabeth II’. We celebrated each country’s diversity, culture and heritage and paid tribute to the late Queen’s contribution to the Commonwealth. We were very fortunate in that our guest speakers represented a diversity of subjects, providing inspiration to our guests.’
Speakers at the dinner included Mei Sim Lai OBE DL, originally from Malaysia, but of Chinese origin who was awarded an OBE for services to equal opportunities in the 2004 New Year Honours. Since then Ms Sim Lai has received a number of awards including the Asian Women of Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution to the Chinese Community Award. Ms Sim Lai’s speech focused on the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Commonwealth.
Nick Bunting OBE, Secretary General and Group CEO of The Royal Air Forces Association, which is one of the largest military welfare charities, and also one of the oldest. Mr Bunting spoke about the support offered to the RAF community by the Association, and the late Queen, who became its Patron in 1952. It was in 2020 that Mr Bunting was appointed OBE for his Services to Serving Personnel and Veterans.
Sir Anthony Seldon, British Educator and Contemporary Historian, and author known for his political biographies, including those of Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and David Cameron enlightened the dinner guests with his speech which discussed the qualities of Prime Ministers, and the qualities that can be learned from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Dr Sivardeen said; ‘We were delighted to welcome our guest speakers who spoke so eloquently and with such insight. The dinner raised awareness of eye health around the Commonwealth nations, and also commemorated the achievements of the late Queen Elizabeth II.’
On a more personal note, Dr Sivardeen continued; ‘I am proud of the team at Specsavers New Malden who have been serving our local community for almost twenty years. Indeed we have many customers who have been visiting us for over fifteen years, so we have seen their children growing up too. Our aim is always to deliver the very best eye and hear care to our local community and to ensure access to all.’
