Marian Blake – Who is she?

I was born and bred in the old railway town of Swindon. Most of my family worked on the railways in some capacity and my father was no exception. I went to the local primary and comprehensive schools and did my A levels in 1975. I was good at science ad wanted to go to university, so took a degree in a subject that would give me a career at the end of it. (Much easier to persuade my father if there was a job at the end!)

After finishing my degree at Aston University in 1978 in Ophthalmic Optics, I took my pre-registration year in Bristol, where I met Chris my husband. I passed the professional exams in 1979 and registered with The General Optical Council.

Chris and I married in 1980 and I worked the next 5 years with first a private optician and then a small group. In 1986, I bit the bullet and started a practice in Bristol which grew from Zero patients to one where I saw over 2000 patients per year. I sold the practice in 2004 when we decided to move to France. In the 18 years I had it I also worked sessions for Bath Royal United Hospital, and took part in a study to see if long term Glaucoma patients could be seen in the community.

Apart from optics which I love still, what else do I like? Well we have 2 dogs at present, a Labrador and a Jack Russell, so they take some of my time. Before we came to France, I was active in the Girl Guide movement; first as an assistant guider, then as District commissioner, Brown Owl and lastly as a Ranger leader. I sew; curtains to gold work embroidery and anything in between. Chris and I have 4 gites to run as well as 2.5 hectares, so I am kept busy. I still try to find time to indulge my love of reading – anything from romance to biography, sci-fi to Shakespeare.

You may be thinking” if she came to France in 2004, isn’t she a bit rusty as an optician?” I took a year off from optics when we arrived, but since 2005, I have been working as a locum in the UK to keep my skills up to date. Also, as part of my GOC registration, I have to take part in continuous training and education to stay registered.