Past History
PLEASE ALSO SEE THE ‘ARCHIVES‘ which can be found in the ‘RESOURCES‘ tab for write-ups of past Club Visits, and images of the visits in ‘PHOTO GALLERIES’.
Scroll down this page for the ROLL OF HONOUR and the list of PAST CLUB VISITS.
THE FIRST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS of the OAICC
Looked back upon by Chairman Frank Barraclough at the anniversary AGM in 2007
I will always regret not starting collecting at the same time as I qualified as an optometrist (in those days an ophthalmic optician) in 1952. In the first place, items would have been far easier to obtain and, secondly, very much cheaper than they have become in later years. In the event, my interest was first kindled by patients occasionally coming in with old spectacles to give to me as they thought I might be interested. Mostly they were from earlier in the 20th century but on one occasion I was given a steel round-eye pair which, much later, I would learn to date circa 1760. I would put the gifts carefully away in a box, with the half-formed idea of eventually putting them on display in my practice’s reception area as A History of Spectacles.
The pressures of the period however, – starting my own practice, fathering a family of five children, the tragic loss of my first wife, Sylvia, in 1971 at the age of 40 and the ongoing expansion of my practice to encompass eventually 4 partners and 6 establishments left my ideas and interest in antiques still in the background.
Then, in 1980, my new wife, Joan, bought me a book, Corson’s Fashions in Eyeglasses, which certainly re-stimulated my latent interest. However, it was not until Derek Davidson, retired from his optical dispensing businesses, put his notices in The Optician early in 1982, seeking interested people to form a club, that I became actively involved in collecting. Although preceded by such eminent worthies as Ronald MacGregor and Hugh Orr, I still take pride in being number 16 on Derek’s list and on becoming one of the Club’s first officers, albeit in the humble position of Minutes Secretary. My knowledge of ophthalmic antiques increased dramatically in the company of such experts and, with children now grown up and partners to run the practices, I was in a position to devote more time to what has become my major hobby and continuing interest.
For eighteen months Derek ran the Club single-handedly, contacting members, collecting subscriptions and producing The Bulletin (the title was changed to The Newsletter with Issue no.11 in 1985). He soon realized that it was much more than a one-man-job and received considerable help from the College of Optometrists, then in Knaresborough Place and their secretary Tom Collingridge, first with the printing and distribution of the Bulletin in 1983 and then by offering their premises as a venue for a first AGM in May 1984. This enabled Derek to ask for volunteers as officers and committee and the AGM resulted in Derek as Chairman, Richard (Peter) Brown as Treasurer/Membership Secretary and myself as Minutes Secretary, with George Sturrock and Alex Parvis on Committee. Ronald MacGregor took over the organization and running of the Auction, which immediately became a popular annual feature of the AGM.
The continuing growth of the Club made it difficult for Richard Brown to cope with his dual duties and, in 1988, Valerie Mellor took over as Membership Secretary, whilst Ronald took over as Editor of The Newsletter in 1990, both of which offices they still hold today. In 1991 we gained an extremely productive Publicity Officer in Stephen James and it was a tragedy and a great loss to the Club when he died suddenly in 1997. Derek, bless his old heart, was not the most organized at running a meeting and I found myself, in addition to taking the Minutes, gradually taking over the planning and running of the AGM. This culminated in my being elected Chairman upon Derek’s retirement in 1994, at which time he was elected Honorary Life President of the Club. The position of a sixth officer was established in 1996, when Gordon Turner was elected as Excursions Officer and, at the same AGM, Richard Brown retired after 12 years as Treasurer to be succeeded by the current incumbent Alan Leach, who has also taken over the role of Auctioneer.
The progress and development of the Club has been entirely dependent upon the untiring work put in by the above-mentioned elected officers and committee, which includes members Udo Timm and Mike Ling both with over 10 years service. The Club could not have survived, let alone prospered, without the continuing support and intensive activity of so many people and it is a tribute to Derek Davidson that he was able to gather them together to enable his dream to become a reality. The first twenty-five years have been very successful and have seen the Club reach an established position in the world of ophthalmic antiques and the Newsletter become a well-respected archive of optical history, consulted and quoted by many authors and authorities.
I must say that the 2007 AGM, with its influx of new blood and new ideas, gives me every hope that the next twenty-five years will see the Club continue to thrive and expand upon the firm foundations already laid.
ROLL OF HONOUR as at May 2025
The first election was in 1984, resulting in officers Derek Davidson, treasurer Richard (Peter) Brown, Minute Secretary Frank Barraclough, with George Sturrock and Alex Parvis on committee.
- The late Derek Davidson served 12 years as Chairman from 1982 to 1994. He was then elected as Honorary Life President, which he held until his death.
- Chuck Letocha joined the OAICC in 1984 becoming the representative for the USA within a couple of years, and continues to this day.
- The late Richard Brown served 12 years as Treasurer from 1984 to 1996.
- Valerie Mellor served 23 years as Membership Secretary from 1988 to 2011, upon her retirement she was co-opted back as a Committee Member.
- Ronald MacGregor was Auctioneer from 1984 and served 19 years as Editor from 1990 to 2009.
- Frank Barraclough served 20 years as Chairman from 1994 to 2014 and was 21 years as Minute Secretary from 1984. Upon his retirement as Chairman he was elected as Honorary Life President, until his death in January 2024.
- The late Stephen James served 7 years as Publicity Officer from 1991 to 1997.
- Alan Leach served 17 years as Treasurer from 1996 to 2013. Upon his retirement he was elected as Club Auction Officer having previously performed that function and finished in 2020.
- Gordon Turner served 11 years as Excursions Officer from 1996 to 2007.
- Graeme Holland served 11 years as Excursions Officer since 2007 to 2018, and continues to serve as a Committee Member.
- John Dixon-Salt was elected as Minutes Secretary in 2007 and served six years as Vice-Chairman from 2008 before taking over as Chairman in 2014. Retiring in May 2025 he was elected as Honorary President.
- Peter Watkins started as Membership Secretary in 2011 and also took over as Treasurer in 2013, relinquishing both posts at the 2023 AGM but continues to offer his guidance.
- George Sturrock is the longest serving Committee Member with 32 years from 1984 until his retirement in 2016.
- Udo Timm served 24 years as Committee Member from 1996 until his death in 2020.
- Mike Ling served 22 years as Committee Member from 1998.
- Neil Handley, Curator of the BOA Museum at the College of Optometrists, has currently served 24 years as a co-opted Member of the Committee since 1998.
- The late Tim Bowden served as Editor for 8 years from 2009.
- Roy Midwinter was elected to the committee in 2016 as Minutes Secretary, and served as Auctioneer from 2020. At the 2023 AGM he was also elected as Treasurer. In May 2025 he agreed to act as Chairman pro tem.
- Our current Editor, David Baker, commenced with the January 2018 Issue No 142, ending with Issue No 172, July 2025.
- Piet Meininger took over as Excursions Officer in 2018 until 2024, and was elected Auctioneer in 2020.
- Guus Wijnsouw served on the committee from 2020 to 2023.
- Luke Mills was elected as Membership Secretary at the 2023 AGM.
- Gary Kousoulou and Christian French were elected as Committee Members in May 2025.
- Tony Chahine started as Guest Editor for the October 2025 Issue No 173 and continued as Editor from January 2026 Issue No 174.
The first eleven Club members were:
- Derek C Davidson, Founder
- Hugh Orr, Hon Curator, BOA Foundation Museum
- George Nissel, Contact Lens Manufacturer
- Ronald J S MacGregor, Newsletter Editor
- Richard Thorpe, Lancaster & Thorpe Collection
- Mrs G J Flanders, Tunbridge Wells
- Ivan D C Pain, Keeler Museum
- Wm M Barton, Conlon’s Collection, Liverpool
- Frank J Pettigrew, Belfast
- Howard S Bainbridge, Darlington
- Sydney Irving, FBCO, Wetherby
History of Club Visits Towns (Museums & Collections) Members
| 1986 France | Paris, Pierre Marly Collection (Avenue Mozart) | 7 |
| 1990 Germany | Carl Zeiss Oberkochen & Udo Timm , Hannover | 5 |
| 1992 Italy | Treviso , Pieve di Cadore , Agordo ( Luxottica ), Venice | 8 |
| 1993 Germany | Hannover Timm Museum , Wienhausen, Rathenow, Jena | 11 |
| 1994 France | Paris Pierre Marly Collection (Rue St. Honoré) | 13 |
| 1995 Netherlands | Gouda, Utrecht. Rotterdam ( Kees Kortland ) Einhoven ( Paul Aangenendt ) | 20 |
| 1996 Sweden | Stockholm ( Swedish Museum Optical History ), Uppsala ( Iwan Wessblad ), | 9 |
| 1997 Switzerland | Geneva, Morez (Musée de la Lunetterie) , Basel ( Ramstein Collection ), Bern ( Hallauer Collection at University Museum ), St.Urban ( Paul Winniger Collection ) | 18 |
| 1998 Italy | Treviso, Padua ( Safilo ), Agordo ( Luxottica ), Pieve di Cadore ( Museo delle Ochiale ), Venice | 22 |
| 1999 Germany | Nuremberg ( Germanisches Museum ) (Menrad), Oberkochen ( Zeiss ) | 12 |
| 2000 Germany | Hannover ( Udo Timm ) | 14 |
| 2001 Scotland | Ronald MacGregor Collection , Edinburgh & Royal Yacht | 24 |
| 2002 Netherlands | Amsterdam ( Willem Banninga Collection ), Brilmuseum , ( Paul Aangenendt Collection ), Bergen-op-Zoom, Haarlem | 21 |
| 2003 France & Switzerland | Morez ( Museum of the Spectacle-Viseum ), ( L’Amy works ), Geneva | 18 |
| 2004 Germany | Jena ( Optisches Museum ), Weimar, Wartburg | 26 |
| 2005 Germany | Hannover ( Udo Timm Museum ), Wienhausen, Luneburg | 41 |
| 2006 Italy | Padua ( Galleria Guglielmo Tabbachi ), Agordo ( Luxottica ), Pieve di Cadore ( Museo delle Ochiale ), Venice | 23 |
| 2007 London 25th Anniversary Celebrations | London BOA Museum, Science Museum, Reserve Collection Blythe House, Fan Museum at Greenwich | 49 |
| 2008 Switzerland | Basel ( Ramstein Collection ), ( Pharmaziehistorisches Museum ), St. Urban, Zurich ( University Museum ), Bern ( Hallauer Collection University Museum ) | 15 |
| 2009 Germany | Wuppertal ( Weismueller Collection ), Cologne ( Karl Steyman Collection ), Bruhl ( Metter-Finkelstein Collection ), Geldern ( Karl-Heinz Hostegs Museum & Factory ) | 23 |
| 2010 Netherlands | Amsterdam ( Brilmuseum ) ( Willem Banninga Collection ), Leiden ( Boerhaave Museum ), Utrecht ( University Museum ) | 21 |
| 2011 Germany | Hannover, Udo Timm , Wienhausen, Celle | 24 |
| 2012 Germany | Jena Optisches Museum , Weimar, Wartburg | 33 |
| 2013 France | Paris Madame Heymann Collection, Musée Art Decoratif, Louvre, Musée Carnavelet, Collection Marly, Collection Moioli , Chateau D’Ecouen | 52 |
| 2014 England | Bexhill Frank Barraclough Collection Worthing John Dixon Salt Collection | 15 |
| 2015 Netherlands | Utrecht Hofvijver, Maurit’s Tower, Universiteits Museum Utrecht, Louwman Collection (Joint meeting with the SIS) | 17 |
| 2016 England | London Blyth House, Royal College of Ophthalmology, Greenwich Fan Museum, Greenwich Royal Observatory | 7 |
| 2017 Germany | Wuppertal Weismueller Collection | 28 |
| 2018 Belgium | Brussels Alexis Vanlathem Collection Enghien | 27 |
| 2019 Scotland | Scotland Ronald MacGregor Collection | 31 |
| 2020 London | Joint meeting with the OHS - CANCELLED | 0 |
| 2021 Worthing, England | John Dixon Salt | 10 |
| 2022 London | BOA Museum, Wellcome Museum, Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Science Museum | 14 |
| 2023 Prague | Vilem Rudolf Collection | 22 |
| 2024 The Netherlands | Paul Aangenendt, Marieke de Jong, Willem Banninga Collections, Utrecht University Depot | 11 |
| 2025 Germany | Rathenow, Jena Reserve collection, Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) Berlin | 14 |