The Company

The Spectacle Makers’ Company (WCSM) maintains its close links with the optical sector.

Although it sees itself as being “Of Optics”, rather than “In Optics”, its members continue to hold prominent positions on the governing bodies of the various optical regulatory and representative organizations, many of which it helped to establish. The Company also offers its facilities at Apothecaries’ Hall as “neutral territory” where contentious issues within optics may be debated openly and amicably under the chairmanship of its officers. With an increasing number of Fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists joining its membership, the WCSM can also help to break down barriers between optometry and ophthalmology.

The WCSM is a major provider of training for optical technicians and optical practice support staff, and has been accredited by the Regulatory Bodies of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as an Awarding Body. It offers nationally recognised qualifications which have been accredited to the Qualifications and Credit Framework for England, Northern Ireland and Wales and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.

On top of this, the Company is building a new charitable fund to allow it to give even greater support to research into the causes of visual impairment (and their cures), and to assist other charities that look after those already affected by it.

To discover more about the WCSM’s work today, and its history, please click on the links above right.

A visit from the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor

It was a great privilege for the Master and Wardens to be able to welcome the 683rd incumbent of the office of Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Michael Bear, and the Lady Mayoress, to the Court Luncheon that was held in Apothecaries' Hall on 21st June 2011. As is the Spectacle Makers' custom, and as shown right, the Master was able to bring proceedings to a close by not only making a contribution to the Lord Mayor's Appeal on behalf of the trustees of the Spectacle Makers' Charity, but also by presenting both the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress with "products of our time honoured craft", which had been very kindly provided by Liveryman Ivan Wainer.

The Courtyard prior to the arrival of the Mayoral party