Noah has a winning eye for wild and wonderful specs

Post on 8th October 2025

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

Noah Aitken 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 Lower Northam 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.

Jade Jarvie, Branch Manager, 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. Noah 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 eye tests and an active lifestyle to protect children’s developing eyes.”

Noah lives locally in Botley and visited the Hedge End branch with his mum, Sarah Aitken. She said: “We’ve been coming to Scrivens since Noah was five and he’s always seen Dispensing Optician, Sarah, who has so much time for him and really helps him choose his glasses. When we were in for his eye test and new glasses, he spotted the competition and picked up an entry form. Noah loves colouring and animals, so he set to work straight away creating his colourful, wildlife-inspired design. We’re delighted that he won, and Noah is so proud to see his idea brought to life!”

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