14th February 1944
Specsavers’ Mary Perkins was born
Bristol-born Mary Perkins founded a chain of opticians with her husband Doug. The first store, which opened in the 1960s, spawned several others over the next few years, until they had a chain in and around Bristol. Within 20 years, they had sold their stores for £2m, and brought the money with them to Guernsey.
In 1984, she and Doug founded another optician called Specsavers. The Guernsey Registry of companies shows a registration for Specsavers Optical Group Limited, which was made on 10 October 1983.
Headquartered on Guernsey, with premises close to the airport, it has become one of the largest optical chains in Britain. It also had branches in Australia and across Europe which, combined, bring in around £1.5bn annually.
Contribution recognised
In 2007, Mary became a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. It was a good year for Guernsey, with two others recognised for their contribution.
The island’s Police Chief, George Le Page received the Queen’s Police Medal, and Judith Le Tissier became an MBE for services to the community.
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Other events that occured in February
Alderney gets its first full-time radio station
- Alderney radio station Quay FM launched on a full-time community radio licence in 2015, having broadcast in summer and at Christmas since 2000.
- Read more…
Release of Reverend Harry Samuel
- The priest who was imprisoned for marrying an uncle and his niece was released after intervention from the Home Secretary.
- Read more…
Oil rig stranded at Grandes Rocques
- The Orion oil rig broke free of its moorings while being transported to Brazil and became wedged at Grandes Rocques on Guernsey. It took a month-long salvage operation to refloat it.
- Read more…
Guernsey’s first Methodist minister arrives
- Jean de Quetteville was Guernsey's first Methodist minister and now has the title Apostle of the Channel Islands.
- Read more…