Time flies doesn’t it! I seem to be getting a lot of reminders of this fact recently. The latest is the imminent retirement of Chris Rodwell of:
My relationship with Chris started soon after I took ownership of S. Aaron (Opticians) in 1993! Clearly, I promptly changed the name to ‘Aaron Optometrists’ to reflect the more clinical future I envisaged.
But real change was only possible when I had the opportunity to purchase, what is now, our downstairs site. This allowed me, with the aid of Chris, to take the first huge step of transforming Aarons from a small 1980s’esk practice toward the award-winning practice of today. Christopher has been my go-to, Bauhaus Craftsperson to keep the practice looking and feeling cutting edge and relevant ever since.
Moving from the small practice to the corner site in 1996 and later transforming the derelict first floor unit into a state of the art 21st century practice in 2003, were the primary builds Chris planned, and project managed. Since these seismic changes Chris has been there throughout my career as we honed the practice to reflect changing commercial initiatives as well as evolving clinical skills.
Along the way his son Ashley, whom I first met in Chris’ back yard as he raced around on his BMX aged 6, grew up and joined the team in 2006. Chris’ legacy will be preserved as Ash, who helped his dad evolve his business from pencil and paper planning to computer based high tech design, will continue the excellent work. I should also mention Daniel who has remained a colleague, and skilled craftsman, since joining the firm as an apprentice early this century. People don’t stay loyal without good reason.
Chris, Ash, Daniel and apprentice Kyle have just finished our latest ‘refresh’, now with input from our own, home grown, qualified commercial designer Laura. On the theme ‘less is more’ we’ve adopted 3 big display screens, freshened the frame displays on both floors, updated the sunglass suite and incorporated a small homage to the history of Aarons in Ashington (circa 1908).
Chris will remain in the background I suspect. Like me it will be hard to let go of a project of a lifetime.
We wish him well and salute his invaluable contribution to the Aarons evolution; a rarely seen member of the Aaron family.
Dr Peter Frampton
