A Wood Green opticians has celebrated three decades of caring for the community with a special in-store event attended by the Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Ahmed Mahbub.
Specsavers in Wood Green recently marked its 30th birthday with a black-tie celebration, bringing together colleagues, customers, and the Mayor for a day complete with balloons, face painting, henna art and cake.
The store also used the day as a fundraising opportunity for Macmillan Cancer Support, helping to kick-start their 1,000km combined walking challenge, which the team is taking on throughout April in memory of colleagues who recently passed away from cancer.
During the event, the Mayor of Haringey addressed the team, thanking them for their long-standing service and commitment to the community over the past 30 years. He also presented gifts to registered hearing aid dispenser, Michelle Apperley, and lab manager, Jason O’Brien, the store’s two longest-serving team members, each of whom has dedicated more than 22 years of service to the store.
Ophthalmic director, Lopa Shah, runs Specsavers Wood Green alongside audiology director Enna Sood, and retail director Nilufar Basit, heading up an experienced team with more than a combined 170 years of service.
Lopa said: ‘It’s hard to believe the store has served the community for the past three decades, having opened all the way back in March 1996. During that time, we’re proud to have supported several generations of the Wood Green community through thousands of eye and hearing checks, and we look forward to continuing that support for many years to come.
‘We had a fantastic day celebrating our 30th anniversary with the Mayor of Haringey, our team and our customers, and we’re delighted to mark such a special milestone with everyone who has supported us along the way!’
Since the store opened, the team has trained hundreds of people, some of whom have gone on to become fully qualified opticians and store partners with Specsavers.
Cllr Mahbub said: ‘It’s a real pleasure to celebrate 30 years of Specsavers Wood Green serving our community. I want to thank the whole team for their dedication, particularly Michelle Apperley and Jason O’Brien, whose many years of service are a credit to the store.
‘It’s fantastic to see a trusted local business continuing to invest in Haringey, support local jobs, and provide such vital eye and hearing care – I wish everyone a wonderful celebration and continued success.’
To donate to Specsavers Wood Green’s Macmillan Cancer Support fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/page/specsavers-wood-green-1
Specsavers Wood Green is open seven days a week. To book an appointment, visit: www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/woodgreen or call the store 020 8881 5000 for eye health specialists and audiology care.
