170 YEARS ON AND STILL PION"EAR"ING

Independent hearing specialist Broom Reid & Harris are celebrating their 170^th year in business making them one of the oldest running independent companies in Exeter. Cast your mind back to 1841, the year that BR&H opened their doors on Queen Street as a pharmacy and opticians. Less than a decade earlier the city had suffered an outbreak of cholera and there was a real need for pharmacies to make healthcare of the day readily available.

The pharmacists would wrap prescriptions for ailments like indigestion, influenza, coughs and headaches in a white paper bag and seal it with wax. Many of these were exclusive to BR&H and over 120 recipes can be seen hand written in a book over 100 years old now on display at BR&H's practice in the Guildhall Shopping Centre, along with other artefacts from their 170 year history.

Looking closely at old photographs of BR&H reveals an Aladdin’s cave of items: artificial eyes and knee caps, oxygen, cameras, binoculars and barometers. But it was none of these things that the company would eventually be famed for.

BR&H introduced electric hearing aids in the 1920s. At the time they were considered to be something of a gimmick; a fad. Today over two million people in the UK use hearing aids and another four million would benefit from them. 

In the early days it was the opticians who would fit them, and even they didn't realise just how pioneering they were.  Practice owner Curtis Alcock explains, “They would run upstairs to the glasses workshop to announce the sale of a hearing aid which, I'm told, was greeted by great cheering and hollering! You have to remember that those first hearing aids were so large and cumbersome you would have to set it on the table or wear it on your body; no wonder people thought it would never take off!” 

In the early 1940’s, Ron Silmon joined BR&H, carrying out general work within the pharmacy. He was to eventually develop BR&H's dedicated hearing aid dispensary. The invention of the transistor in the 1950’s meant hearing aids were fast becoming smaller and more discreet, a far cry from the original bulky designs. As demand increased, it was no longer enough for hearing aids just to be a “bolt-on service for opticians”: to do it properly required dedicated experience and expertise, and Ron began laying those foundations, implementing the best practices of the day and sourcing cutting-edge technology to ensure his clients had the best results.

When talks of a new Guildhall Shopping Centre for Exeter meant relocation for BR&H from their premises on Queen Street, plans were made to merge the optical and photographic side with other businesses. BR&H was now free to focus on hearing aids. Ron moved the practice into the Guildhall Shopping Centre, where it remains to this day “tucked away discreetly” on the Higher Market Gallery. 

Ron has long since retired, but his commitment to providing unrivalled private hearing care in Devon continues today through Curtis Alcock, who now owns BR&H with his wife. After 170 years, it's reassuring to know that not only is Exeter home to possibly the longest established hearing care practices in the country, but BR&H is still a name synonymous with personal service, traditional values and pioneering cutting-edge technology.

BLIND CHARITIES WORK TOGETHER FOR BENEFIT OF MEMBERS

 
 Devon in Sight based in Topsham has joined forces with Action for Blind People to launch a new drop-in advice centre to help visually impaired people in the region to claim their full benefit entitlement.

The two charities are working together by pooling their resources and expertise to provide regular benefits advice sessions on Thursday mornings at the Devon in Sight Resource Centre in Topsham.  Staff and volunteers will be able to advise locals with visual impairment find out exactly what they are able to claim and to offer help in filling out any necessary paperwork. 

Katherine Charman, Resource Centre Manager, Devon in Sight says:  “With sight loss you can face additional expenses that may prevent you from going out and about in your day to day life and there are a number of benefits available.  We are delighted to be working with Action for Blind People to ensure that people with visual impairment get the best advice in order to receive their full and rightful entitlement.  There is no need to book an appointment as the sessions will be run on a drop-in basis regularly every Thursday morning.”

http://www.devoninsight.org.uk/

Welfare Rights Drop-in Sessions are held every Thursday 10.30am – 12.30pm at Station House, Topsham.  To find out more or how you can help support Devon in Sight Tel: 01392 876666

SIGHT CHARITY ORGANISES UNUSUAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Innovative Topsham based charity Devon in Sight (formerly known as Devon County Association for the Blind) is organising a series of unusual activities for visually impaired people. These will include computer training, an interesting and innovative photography group being established in August and a game of bowls at Topsham Bowling Club founded in 1928.

The first organised event is a guided walk with Topsham Society on Monday 8^th August at 2 pm, culminating with tea and a talk at the Topsham Museum.  The cost will be just £1 and walkers will meet at the Resource Centre recently opened by local celebrity Bill Pertwee MBE well known from the British comedy classic, Dad’s Army.  

This will be quickly followed by the first of a series of computer training sessions from the 11^th August. The charity is working with the British Computer Association for the Blind who are going to run a series of computer training sessions at Station House under the EyeT4All programme.  The workshops are designed to help participants with writing letters and emails; shopping; reading; entertainment and using the web.  The free workshops will run from 10 am – 3.30 pm with refreshments and lunch provided.  The Charity is asking for a small £3 contribution towards the refreshment cost.

A photography course will commence in early September. The aim of the participatory photography workshops is to provide a means of empowerment and engagement to the service users of Devon in Sight by engaging them in creative photography workshops. 

 

Clive Chilvers Photography says: “Participatory photography, also referred to as “photovoice,” are terms used to describe a form of photography whereby a group of individuals are provided with photographic equipment and through guided workshops offered the opportunity to document an issue or problem that affects themselves and or the people and the communities around them by the use of photographic imagery.  The resulting images can form the basis for discussion that can lead to heightened awareness, advocacy and potential social change.  This allows individuals to communicate their story or situation to a wider audience. It fits perfectly with the members of the charity.”

Director of Services Martin Pallett says: “With the recent opening of the new larger Resource Centre we are holding a variety of taster sessions to give visually impaired people an opportunity to try things out and help improve their quality of life.  It is a very exciting development with a large number of activities including we hope some art classes. It also helps build links with the local community as well as providers of training and activities.  Anyone can join us; they just need to have some level of sight difficulty to qualify and will need to pre-book as we are limited to numbers although we currently have availability.  We are looking to run the majority of sessions free however we will ask for a nominal contribution where appropriate towards the cost of refreshments or material costs.”

To find out more about the activities or to book your place please telephone 01392 876666

SIGHT CHARITY & OPTICIANS TEAM UP FOR NATIONAL EYE HEALTH WEEK

Devon In Sight charity and Topsham based Bill & Taylor opticians teamed up for National Eye Health Week to offer free spectacle servicing in Topsham last week.

Director of Services (DIS) Martin Pallett & Paul Ayshford of Bill & Taylor

Martin Pallett, Director of Services for Devon In Sight and Paul Ayshford, Practice owner of Bill & Taylor Opticians set up at the charity’s head quarters at Station House in Topsham between 4.00 – 6.00 pm to offer free advice and spectacle servicing for the local community.

Paul Ayshford who owns the Bill & Taylor opticians practice based on Topsham High Street, offered free spectacle servicing including sonic cleaning stubborn dirt from between lenses and frames, spraying lenses for clarity of vision, screw tightening, nose pad adjustment and a frame heater to adjust the fit of frames.

Visitors using the service also got a free case / cleaning cloth and the chance to get a sneak preview of the charity's new Resource Centre before its official opening in July. Director of Services for Devon In Sight Martin Pallett carrying out a survey on eye healthcare with passersby on how they look after their sight. All of the completed questionnaires will be entered into a fantastic free prize draw for a pair of desirable and fashionable RayBan sunglasses generously donated by Bill & Taylor.

The purpose of the week is about raising awareness of the importance of people looking after their sight and in particular how regular sight tests are a vital part of good eye care and looking after your sight.

Martin Pallett says “We are delighted to be working closely with Bill & Taylor during National Eye Health Week raising awareness about the importance of people taking good care of their sight. Many people took advantage of the free service we were offering and our questionnaire generated some very interesting results. Regular sight tests are an essential part of good eye care and looking after your vision and by doing activities such as these we hope to continue to raise awareness about this.”