about Percy Harrison

The Percy Harrison Story

Percy Harrison Opticians is an independent practice, founded in 1916. In 2024 we relocated to our beautiful new practice in Osborne Road. We are passionate about eyecare and offer a high quality, attentive service to have you seeing, hearing and looking your best with our exciting range of frames and lenses. We offer lots of additional services, low vision assessments, dry eye treatments and colourimetry, to name a few! We are fiercely proud of our independent status. Being truly independent means that we are able to offer a completely bespoke service, tailored to your individual needs.

The practice has a very interesting, if not slightly disturbing, history. Some of our patients may still remember Mr Percy Harrison who founded the practice over 100 years ago. Tragically, he was murdered along with his beloved wife in the 1970s, after disturbing a burglar. Fortunately, the perpetrator was caught and imprisoned. The practice then passed to Mr Michael Palmer, who eventually sold it to his nephew, Mark Esbester. After many years in the practice, Mark has decided to take a step back and begin retirement, and the practice has passed to Hannah Bird FBDO.

A lot has changed in optics over the last 100 years, with the development of progressive lenses, lens materials and modern clinical equipment. Our practice now has up-to-date, comfortable styling, with the benefit of state-of-the-art, gold standard equipment.

We have a holistic approach to dispensing and tailor your prescription to suit your lifestyle. From dry eyes to swimming goggles, sports eyewear, sunglasses and magnifiers, our Dispensing Optician, Hannah Bird FBDO, and her dedicated team of professionals will ensure all options and optical solutions are discussed with you.

Our Team

Hannah Bird FBDO, acquired the practice in 2022 and is committed to ensuring the practice’s continued high quality of client service and has an all round approach to eye health. Hannah has 20 years’ experience in optics and is a qualified Dispensing Optician. She has introduced many exciting brands, and along with her colleagues, offers a comprehensive dispensing and frame styling experience with an acute attention to detail, ensuring precision and quality. She hopes to eventually pass the practice on to her daughter, Bella (although she doesn’t know this yet!.) Bella is depicted as the second bird in our logo.

Optometrist Brodie Ruaux joined our team in 2024 and we are so excited to have her on board! Since qualifying as an Optometrist at Cardiff University, Brodie has gained additional certificates in Medical Retina, Paediatric Eye Care and Low vision. She is a dedicated practitioner, and shares her time here at our practice with working alongside Ophthalmologists at a local Eye Clinic.

Optometrist Eleanor Atkinson originally trained in medical physics before retraining as an Optometrist at City University. She brings a wealth of experience and has a special interest in paediatrics.  When Ellie isn’t in the practice she can often be found at the stables with her horse, with whom she has won many rosettes and trophies!

Dispensing Optician Ian Rampton FBDO joined the practice following the closure of Portsmouth University Eye Clinic. He is dedicated in his work running Special Clinics at Percy Harrison Opticians. He has decades of experience under his belt and enjoys a challenge - as a father of 6 there isn’t much that can beat him!

Nancy Hunter FBDO has worked in the area for many years and has a loyal following of patients who love her honest dispensing advice and outgoing nature. Nancy is currently completing a conversion course to become an Optometrist, and carries out overlay assessments and colourimetry, alongside having a particular interest in finding solutions for patients with low vision. For a chat about how colour may help reduce symptoms of visual stress or dyslexia, or to book a low vision assessment, get in touch.

Betty is Hannah’s cockapoo. Sometimes she can be found at the practice too and there are plenty of doggy biscuits she is (mostly- especially when she isn’t looking) willing to share! If you’re passing with your doggy friend do pop in so we can give them a treat!