Retirement the focus for Aldridge optician after 25 years' service

CONGRATULATIONS to Jonathan Preston, the practice manager and dispensing optician at Colin Lee's Aldridge practice who is due to retire at the end of the month - one week short of 25 year's service with the company.

Jonathan, aged 62,from Oldbury,said he is looking forward to putting his feet up and enjoying more free time with his wife, Jackie, who retired 18 months ago.

He joined Colin Lee Opticians a quarter of a century ago, working at the Harborne practice, before moving to Aldridge in 1988.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed being here – obviously, or I would not have stayed here for so long, and though I am looking forward to stopping work, I will certainly miss all of the staff and patients , who I have got to know really well over the years,” he said.

“I never have time for reading now, or weekends away, as I work Saturdays, so those are two things I intend to do lots more of starting from January.”

Clive Marchant, director of Colin Lee Opticians, said staff will all be sad to see Jona go, as he has been with the company almost from the beginning.

“We celebrated our 30th anniversary in 2008, and Jona would have reached his 25 year’s service in January, so he has played quite a role in our company’s history.

“Jona is a great character, and we really are going to miss him. But he does deserve a rest, and we wish him all the very best, and look forward to our next staff get together in January, when we hope to give him a proper send off.”

Replacing Mr Preston will be Chris Masters, whose mum already works for the company at the Burntwood practise.

The 28-year-old, who will take over the role of practise manager and dispensing optician, joins from Malcolm Gray Opticians in Mere Green, where he has worked for the last five years.

Mr Masters lives in Burntwood with his wife Kelly, and young daughters, Aimie and Emily.

“We already know Chris, through his mum Gay, and have watched his career develop with interest, so we are delighted to be welcoming him to Aldridge,” said Mr Marchant.

"We hope, like Jonathan before him, that he enjoys a long and successful career with us, offering the first rate service our patients have come to expect.