Still going strong after 40 years

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Stephen Holt with his receptionist of 16 years, Janet Earnshaw.

Ophthalmic Optician Stephen Holt is celebrating 40 years in business this week.

Mr Holt, who owns Stephen J Holt Ophthalmic Opticians on Oldham Road, has seen many hundreds of people visit his shop since it first opened in 1971.

Rochdale born and bred, Mr Holt studied at the then Balderstone Grammar School before going on to study Ophthalmic Optics at Bradford University.

He spent his pre-registration year at the Eye Department at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital and in 1970 he qualified as an Ophthalmic Optician.

The shop on Oldham Road has expanded from one unit to one and a half units over the years.

Mr Holt said the aim was to always set up his own business and modestly says that after 40 years it “still feels the same,” adding “nothing alters.”

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

Summing up the past 40 years he described it as “enjoyable” and concluded: “I’ll be here for a while yet!”