ABDO College welcomes leading optician/optometrist Alessandro Spiezia

International award-winning optician and optometrist Alessandro Spiezia visited ABDO College 21 October. He was presented with the International Optician’s Association Lifetime Achievement award for services to optics in 2019 and gained the freedom of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers this year.

ABDO general secretary Sir Tony Garrett and Elaine Grisdale, head of professional services and international development, met Alessandro at the college, near Canterbury in Kent. Alessandro published his autobiography, Alessandro Spiezia l’Ottico Che Ha Visto La Storia. Incontri Speciali in Una Piccola Bottega di Occhiali in October.

Alessandro said: “I am honoured to visit this prestigious place of learning, steeped in history just after receiving, for my small shop in Via del Babuino, in the heart of Rome, the coveted plaque of Bottega Storica, (historical workshop). My shop, called by many friends “Casket Full of Glasses” has always been not only caring for eye health but also an up-to-date window for all the latest technology, both functional and aesthetic, that we have at our disposal, thanks to the hard work of our industry.

“In particular, the position of my activity has allowed me through the years to meet many important people in the world of culture, art, TV and cinema. Even heads of state and the Vatican. But most of all it allowed me to help many ordinary people to have care for their own eyes. To each and every one of them, I gave the same scrupulous attention, as is required by my own professional ethics and, I know, taught by ABDO.

“In the school of opticians in my city, I have been a Master of Arts and, as a teacher, I would like to underline on this occasion the importance of preparing our young opticians for the difficult challenges of tomorrow, training them to handle the complexities of our work. I say this knowing how much effort your members put into this every day, as you share not only technical knowledge but also the humanity that is necessary to help those in need.

“I think we should reflect on words of wisdom from Sir Winston Churchill: ‘sometimes doing our best is not enough, we must do what is necessary. It’s not strength or intelligence that is the key to finding our own potential it is continuous effort’. It is an encouragement to work with tenacity, every day with the same dedication which is our dedication towards others.”