Winter 2021Independent optician Stephen Holt celebrates 50 years of business

Stephen Holt is a Rochdale optician who has been looking after local residents’ eye health for 50 years – and he’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

When young electrician Peter France wired up his test chart on 8 November 1971, he became Stephen Holt’s very first patient, the first of thousands over what would become a half-century of business.

A former Rochdale Grammar School student, Stephen began his lengthy career as one of Rochdale’s most trusted opticians by studying for a BSc Hons degree in Ophthalmic Optics at Bradford University.

Stephen spent his pre-registration year on placement at the Eye Department at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, before qualifying as an ophthalmic optician in 1971.

Stephen opened his independent opticians – Stephen J Holt Ophthalmic Opticians – on Oldham Road in 1971, where he continues to practice to this day. The shop on Oldham Road has expanded in size over the years, but very little else has changed.

With patients of all ages, Stephen cares about everyone’s eye health. For those who are unable to physically attend an appointment, Stephen attends private and care homes to ensure all his patients’ needs are met.

For more than 35 years, Stephen has closed his practice on Tuesday afternoons as he also works for the NHS at the paediatric eye clinic at Nye Bevan House. Here, Stephen examines children from birth upwards to ensure they have the best advice as their eye health changes.

When he’s not at work, Stephen enjoys playing music, especially the clarinet, saxophone, and organ. He’s also a long-time supporter and sponsor of the local rugby league side, Rochdale Hornets, and even opened a popular town centre pub – The Baum – back in 1980.

With no plans to retire soon, Stephen continues to take on new patients, offering the same care and attention he always has.

Stephen said the aim was to always set up his own business and modestly says, even after all this time, it “still feels the same.”

One of his favourite parts of the job, he said, is working with individuals and meeting new people.

Summing up the past 50 years, he described it as “enjoyable” and concluded: “I’ll be here for a while yet!”