We are proud to be an independent opticians located in the north east with over 50 years experience. We like to be part of the community and value our customers by providing the best experience we can. Read our story below to find out about our journey so far.
Our story starts on 20th November 1957 when my grandfather, Kenneth Charles Haikings and his friend Ron Young opened Stanley’s’ first Opticians. It was called K C Haikings Opticians and was situated on Clifford Road, next to where Lloyds Pharmacy is today. The practice soon became an integral part of the community with Ron especially active in local groups.
In 1985, compulsory purchase meant the Opticians had to move across the way to 3 Clifford Road. It was at this point that Ron bought “K.C’s” share of the business and the practice name was changed to R Young Opticians. The practice continued to grow and in the early 1990’s, Ron’s sons, Alan and Paul, joined to help him.
The natural progression followed and upon Ron’s retirement, the company continued as a family practice providing spectacles, contact lenses and domiciliary eye care to Stanley and the surrounding area. The company was also active in providing training to pre-registration optometrists. I was one of those who benefitted from this and upon qualifying in 2001, I joined the family business in one of my grandfather’s original practices in Newcastle.
Paul and I remained good friends and when he started to think about retirement, he was passionate that the Opticians that his father helped build, remained in the “family”. On 1st June 2018, Paul Young retired and I bought the practice. And so this family practice continues and the next chapter begins…..