By Alan Quick

TODAY, Friday, January 8, will see some changes at Stewart Price opticians at 134 High Street, Crediton.

The business proprietors, optometrists and contact lens practitioner, Stewart Price and his wife, Maureen, a dispensing and contact lens optician, both retire today, and are handing over the business to new owner, Adam Jones, from Tiverton.

Both Stewart and Maureen qualified, respectively, in 1973, acquiring the business in Crediton in 1982.

Maureen explained: “We would like to thank all those people who have supported us with their custom over the years.

“In the early years we also had a practice in Barnstaple but as we got busier at Crediton we sold that to concentrate on building the practice here.

“The Crediton practice now has a large number of patients and we are taking this opportunity to retire and pass the business on to Adam, who is a well-respected young optometrist.

“We will miss meeting our patients, some of who were real characters, but I am pleased to say that the current staff will be continuing to work at Stewart Price, which will also keep the same business name.

“Lisa has worked here for 20 years and Kate and Tracy have both been here for about five years.

“Both Stewart and myself have enjoyed working here and being part of the Crediton business community and we are now both looking forward to spending more time with our family.

“I am also looking forward to making more cakes and I think Stewart may now be able to find more time to spend in the garden and time to return to a golf course.”

Stewart Price Opticians is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

All the same services will be available, including eye tests at the opticians and, by arrangement, at a patient’s home, dispensing and contact lenses.

A large range of styles of glasses can be obtained at Stewart Price, including many brand named variations.

Stewart and Maureen wished Adam all the best for the future.