Cricket legend opens new Specsavers in Preston

Opticians chain Specsavers has opened a new store in Preston with the help of cricket legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.

The shop, Specsavers’ 800th in the UK and Ireland, is located on Flintoff Way within the Sainsbury’s Superstore at Preston’s Deepdale shopping hub.

Andrew Flintoff cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony, held today (December 1) and attended by Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins.

Dame Mary said: “When we opened our first Specsavers store in Bristol in 1984 it was impossible to imagine that we would one day be opening our 800th store; it is an amazing milestone.

“The Deepdale store is the fifth we have opened in a Sainsbury’s since August last year. We are delighted with the success of this collaboration with Sainsbury’s and have agreed to open a further nine locations in Sainsbury’s before the end of March next year.”

Commenting on the launch, Andrew Flintoff said: “One of the first lessons they teach you in cricket, football or any sport as a kid is to ‘keep your eye on the ball’ but so many of us take our sight for granted.

“To see how far eye and audiology healthcare has developed since Specsavers opened its first store is incredible. I’ve heard how nearly half of all sight loss is preventable so I’m fully behind Specsavers.”

At the launch ceremony, the cricketer turned broadcaster tried out the Eye Pod, an interactive sight loss simulator funded by the Royal National Institute of Blind People and Specsavers.

The technology, which has been on a tour around the UK as part of an eye health campaign, demonstrates how the most common eye conditions affect sight.

The new store is led by retail director Chris Shore and ophthalmic director Sean Buckley, who also own and run the Specsavers store at 1 Friargate, Preston.

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