Rufus has a winning eye for wild and wonderful specs

Post on 6th October 2025

A creative nine-year-old from Leyton has his eyes on the prize after winning a competition to design a pair of glasses inspired by all things wild and wonderful.

Rufus Jennings was presented with a fun model of his design, a panda soft toy, and a £50 toy shop voucher at Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care on High Road.

Youngsters were encouraged to submit their designs with a wild and wonderful theme, highlighting the wonders of the natural world and the benefits that spending time outdoors brings to children’s eye health. All proceeds from the £1 entry fee went to Alzheimer’s Society.

Branch manager Nasrin Haque said: “This competition was a fun way to encourage children to let their imaginations run wild and create wonderful, spec-tacular designs, while supporting our chosen charity, Alzheimer’s Society. Rufus did a great job and is a very worthy winner.

“More and more children have myopia (short-sightedness) and research indicates that contributing factors include increased screen time and not enough time spent outdoors. Our Design a Spec competition highlights the importance of regular sight tests and an active lifestyle to protect children’s developing eyes.”

Rufus lives locally and visited the Leyton branch with his dad, Ross Jennings, who said: “We were in the branch for Rufus’ sight test and new glasses when he saw the competition and decided to take the entry form home. He loves getting creative and set to work creating his colourful design as soon as he got home. We’re delighted that he won and Rufus is so proud to see his wildlife-inspired spectacles design come to life.”

Family business Scrivens was established in 1938 and has 166 branches. For more information, visit www.scrivens.com