“This esteemed society has finally called it a day” 

The Yorkshire Optical Society (YOS) has gifted a range of historical regalia to the British Optical Association Museum after the society wrapped up in 2023 due to dwindling attendance.

The items, which included past president medals and name badges, were transferred to the museum on 4 June.

This follows the final YOS annual general meeting and Owen Aves Memorial Lecture on 14 September 2023.

The YOS was founded in 1899 and provided regular continuing professional development events for optometrists, dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians in the region.

The annual Owen Aves Memorial Lecture, which began in 1929, saw eminent individuals within optics deliver presentations on a range of topics. Past speakers include Professor Bruce Evans, Frank Norville, Dr Margaret Woodhouse and Professor Philip Morgan.

They will serve to remind future optometrists of the way their predecessors came together to learn, socialise and develop

Optometrist Stewart Mitchell, a past president of the YOS, shared that the way people access education has changed, leading to dwindling attendance at YOS events.

“This esteemed society has finally called it a day,” he said.

Reflecting on highlights of his time at the YOS, Mitchell shared that the annual Owen Aves Memorial Lecture enabled the society to draw well-known names within research, optometry and ophthalmology to Yorkshire to present their work.

“The social side of the society was also a highlight. For years, we held an annual dinner and dance,” he said.

Over the years, the YOS organised croquet and golf tournaments.

“My most memorable moment was when we had an evening gliding. We all got a chance to have a few minutes in control of a glider – a great experience,” Mitchell shared.

Dr Neil Handley, curator of the British Optical Association Museum at the College of Optometrists, shared that the museum holds historic and archival material from both national and local optical associations.

“Whenever optometrists have gathered together, for solidarity, campaigning, continuing education or just friendship, there have always been positive outcomes,” he said.

Handley added that there will always be intangible benefits of optical societies that cannot be captured in photographs and written records.

“These objects, however, can be preserved as symbols of those professional interactions, that took place over an extended period of time. We must hope they will serve to remind future optometrists of the way their predecessors came together to learn, socialise and develop,” he said.