Meet the Committee

helping introduce Direct Referral and Cataract Pre and Post Op Assessment.

He has worked as an Independent Optician in Suffolk since 1992, becoming a partner then sole owner at Peel and Gudgin Opticians until partially retiring in 2024.

He resigned as chairman to form a Suffolk Eyecare company with other LOC members to introduce Referral Refinement to Suffolk.

After Qualifying as a Dispensing Optician, Sue spent 21 years at Dollond & Aitchison.

With a background in senior management and as an experienced, creative, and results orientated communications and business consultant, her senior level experience of planning and executing integrated marketing/PR programmes have assisted the OCCS over the past 4 years. This has included a regular presence across Optical Media along with managing the OCCS social media strategy.

and was a key figure in negotiating the fee received for community glaucoma services in Ipswich and East from 2020. Since the COVID pandemic, Adrian has adroitly managed the virtual delivery of CPD, AGMs and committee meetings.

Adrian returned to Ipswich in 1999, working in the hospital eye clinic while also practicing independently for over a decade. Today, he continues to work at the practice founded by his father, Christopher, on Berners Street. Adrian has a special interest in paediatric vision, particularly the assessment of reading difficulties and Visual Stress. Kite’s opticians were an early adopter of extended primary eyecare services since their inception in 2011 (which is when Adrian joined the committee)

Gerald worked as a dispensing optician for 3years before deciding to progress in a more clinical capacity. Gerald gained entry onto the Contact Lens certificate course through ABDO and upon completion became a registered Contact Lens Optician.

Gerald is now studying Optometry at University of Central Lancashire hoping to qualify in 2026.

Prior to joining Newmedica, Rukan was at Specsavers Newmarket, where she developed a keen interest in dry eye. 

Rukan is passionate about improving patient care, strengthening collaboration between eye care services, and supporting the LOC to benefit the local optical community.

“I have previously worked in the Dept. of Contact Lenses & Prostheses at Moorfields Eye Hospital, before moving on to work for independent opticians in Bishop’s Stortford and Cambridge. After taking time to start a family, I returned to the profession with Boots Opticians, followed by another independent optician, before establishing my own practice, Scarborows Opticians in Felixstowe. Currently, I work three days a week as a Locum in Saxmundham and Halesworth, alongside my role as an Assistant Governor for Rotary. Throughout my time on the LOC, I have seen numerous developments, including the introduction of LOCSU and Evolutio, and have been actively involved in planning stages as the LOC has evolved. Some of my key contributions include: Participating in the Community Health Awareness Programme Introducing Jolly Giraffe for Children’s Eyecare Organizing Speaker Programmes for CPD Establishing the Dementia Awareness Programme Taking a special interest in Low Vision Aids for the Community Being part of the LOC allows me to stay involved in our profession’s growth and have a voice in representing our optometric community. If you are interested in making a difference, I highly encourage you to join us!”

including organising CPD events and helping set up the early referral refinement schemes in Suffolk.

He has been practicing in Suffolk since 1999. During his career he had worked for both multiple and Independent practices and is now the owner of Scarborows Opticians in Felixstowe.