His mother was Matron at the well known Reedham Orphanage in Purley, and he had come to Croydon after serving his apprenticeship with an uncle as a Jeweller and Watchmaker in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. The family has long been involved with the City Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers. Five members of the family were, or still are, either Fellows or Liverymen, and with two holding the position of Master of the Livery Company - Douglas Rawling in 1969-71 and Michael Rawling in 1983-85.
Four of Alfred's grandchildren followed in the family footsteps qualifying as Optometrists and continuing to run the business and in more recent times, branches have been opened in Alton (1961), Chandlers Ford, Hedge End and Alresford in Hampshire. Currently there are eight in all. Of the fourth generation, Richard Rawling is now Managing Director of the company alongside the other Directors Helen Short, David Barker, Claire Shipway, Rachael Smith, Tim Shipway and Deborah Blanc.
They are committed to continuing the high professional standards set by the firm.
Four of Alfred's grandchildren followed in the family footsteps qualifying as Optometrists and continuing to run the business and in more recent times, branches have been opened in Alton (1961), Chandlers Ford, Hedge End and Alresford in Hampshire. Currently there are eight in all. Of the fourth generation, Richard Rawling is now Managing Director of the company alongside the other Directors Helen Short, David Barker, Claire Shipway, Rachael Smith, Tim Shipway and Deborah Blanc.
They are committed to continuing the high professional standards set by the firm.
Services
Rawlings Opticians is an independent company founded in Croydon in 1895 and to this day members of the Rawling family remain in the business.
Richard Rawling is our Managing Director based at our Purley branch.
Established in 1895, we pride ourselves on our independent, professional and ethical service combining specialist expertise, products and value to deliver an innovative approach to your eye care.
We have a huge choice of frames with up to 1000 different styles in some branches and our independent status means we have frames and lenses available from many different manufacturers all over the world.
Richard Rawling is our Managing Director based at our Purley branch.
Established in 1895, we pride ourselves on our independent, professional and ethical service combining specialist expertise, products and value to deliver an innovative approach to your eye care.
We have a huge choice of frames with up to 1000 different styles in some branches and our independent status means we have frames and lenses available from many different manufacturers all over the world.
We currently offer online contact lens orders for registered Rawlings Opticians contact lens patients aged over 16.
Orders can also be placed by phoning your branch.
Weekday lens orders will be placed on the same day if submitted before 12 noon, delivery times will vary depending on lens type and manufacturer.
Name: Date of birth: Preferred phone no: E-mail: Which branch of Rawlings Opticians are you registered with?
Payment will be taken on collection of the lenses or by phone if direct delivery is requested.
Orders can also be placed by phoning your branch.
Weekday lens orders will be placed on the same day if submitted before 12 noon, delivery times will vary depending on lens type and manufacturer.
Name: Date of birth: Preferred phone no: E-mail: Which branch of Rawlings Opticians are you registered with?
Payment will be taken on collection of the lenses or by phone if direct delivery is requested.
At Rawlings Opticians we are committed to supporting local national and international causes.
Over recent years we have supported Vision Aid Overseas, CHECT (Childhood Eye Cancer Trust) World Sight Day and Optometry Giving Sight amongst many others.
Moorfields Eye Charity is the main fundraising and grant-making charity for Moorfields Eye Hospital and its academic partner the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
Together, they treat around 750,000 patients a year and produce more research than any other eye hospital in the world.
Over recent years we have supported Vision Aid Overseas, CHECT (Childhood Eye Cancer Trust) World Sight Day and Optometry Giving Sight amongst many others.
Moorfields Eye Charity is the main fundraising and grant-making charity for Moorfields Eye Hospital and its academic partner the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
Together, they treat around 750,000 patients a year and produce more research than any other eye hospital in the world.
We only have one planet, so at Rawlings we try to avoid unnecessary waste and recycle as much as possible.
It is also important to us that the products we source are eco-friendly too.
You will see in our branches big blue bottles on the wall, these are filled with a cleaning solution so we can refill (for free!) the Rawlings cleaning sprays that you can purchase.
This reduces the plastic waste of the bottles and is much more cost effective for you!
Did you know that at Rawlings we can take in contact lenses and blister packs for recycling?
It is also important to us that the products we source are eco-friendly too.
You will see in our branches big blue bottles on the wall, these are filled with a cleaning solution so we can refill (for free!) the Rawlings cleaning sprays that you can purchase.
This reduces the plastic waste of the bottles and is much more cost effective for you!
Did you know that at Rawlings we can take in contact lenses and blister packs for recycling?
If I am on a low income or a student but do not qualify in the above groups can I get help?.
Laser eye surgery can be undertaken to correct many cases of myopia (short sight) and astigmatism safely and predictably.
Laser correction of hyperopia (long sight) is also possible.
Presbyopia, which causes the need to wear reading glasses or bifocals, cannot currently be corrected by laser surgery though recent small experimental studies suggest that this may be possible over the next few years, either by laser or by implants into the cornea.
Laser eye surgery can be undertaken to correct many cases of myopia (short sight) and astigmatism safely and predictably.
Laser correction of hyperopia (long sight) is also possible.
Presbyopia, which causes the need to wear reading glasses or bifocals, cannot currently be corrected by laser surgery though recent small experimental studies suggest that this may be possible over the next few years, either by laser or by implants into the cornea.
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