Clement Clarke 100 Year Anniversary Book

THECLEMENTCLARKECENTENARY-THEFIRST100YEARS...1917-2017
The
Clement Clarke
Centenary
The first 100 years...
1917-2017
In 2017, Clement Clarke Limited marks its
centenary year. This commemorative book
celebrates the long and varied history of the
company.
The Clement Clarke story commences with
the company’s humble beginnings in 1917,
when Clement Clarke Dispensing Opticians
was formed. It then sees the company begin a
successful collaboration with Edgar Fincham
to produce the first British slit lamp and the
Fincham Ophthalmoscope. In this publication
you will witness the company expand its
spectacle frame-making business by setting
up its first Eye Clinic in the 1920s and discover
how this aided the conception of the National
Eye Service and influenced the NHS ophthalmic
services we know today.
Celebrate the launch of the revolutionary new
Synoptophore in the 1930s, and learn about its
use in the orthoptic testing of RAF servicemen
and how this impacted the Battle of Britain.
See why Clement Clarke Limited diversified
into artificial eye production, facial prosthetic
reconstruction and the manufacture of sight
safety flying goggles during the war years.
Find out about the company’s entry into the
respiratory market in the 1940s, with the
development of an early inhaler, followed by a
revolutionary new general anaesthetic machine,
the Marrett Head.
Moving through the 1950s, we see the company
relocate to Harlow to enable integration of the
medical and aviation communications operations
into a single factory. During this decade
Clement Clarke Limited also forms a successful
partnership with Dr. B.M. Wright to produce the
first portable peak flow meter.
The book explains how, in the 1960s, sight testing
services by opticians became a recognised
Health Act and, with the increased demand for
spectacles, a huge programme of modernisation
commenced at manufacturing subsidiary Hanwell
Optical Company.
In the 1970s, we see the ophthalmic division of
Clement Clarke Limited amalgamate with Airmed,
and the company reform under the new name
Clement Clarke International (CCI). We also learn
about the company’s expansion with its purchase
of John Weiss & Son Limited. CCI is then acquired
by the Haag-Streit AG optical group in the
1980s and the internationally-renowned Haag-
Streit Group we know today was formed. The
company’s UK-wide dispensing optician stores
were then sold to the high street chain, Boots
PLC, resulting in the formation of Boots Opticians.
The 1990s sees a focus on innovation and the
development of new products, many of which
have become the gold-standard in their field and
are still used in modern practice today.
Moving into the present day, this book describes
the separation between the ophthalmic,
respiratory and telecommunications divisions
and the sale of Clement Clarke Communications
to the MEL Group. It concludes with an overview
of how the current three remaining companies -
Haag-Streit UK, Clement Clarke International and
John Weiss & Sons - continue to support Clement
Clarke’s original vision, employing cutting-edge
technology to make a significant difference in the
medical sector.
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The
Clement Clarke
Centenary
The first 100 years...
1917-2017

4
CLEMENT CLARKE – THE MAN
The Early &
Military Years
Clement William Clarke
was born in Marylebone
in 1883. In 1899, he
became an apprentice to
George Spiller Dispensing
Opticians, located in
Wigmore Street, London.
After serving his five-year
apprenticeship, Clement
was promoted to Junior
Assistant. Through the
years he progressed
steadily; in 1910 he
was appointed General
Manager and by 1913 held
the position of Managing
Director.
A year into WW1, Clarke left Spillers and joined
the 13th Middlesex Regiment, where he served for
two years. He was discharged from the military on
medical grounds in 1917.
The Businessman
Upon returning from the
Great War, Clarke refocused
on his business career
in the optical industry.
Known for his boundless
energy and enterprising
initiative, he purchased the
goodwill of Leslie Pullar,
dispensing opticians, and
Clement Clarke Dispensing
Opticians was established.
During the early days,
the premises were quite
small, comprising just
the showroom and first
floor, and the business
consisted of only four staff
members: Clarke (known
affectionately as ‘The
Governor’) and three other staff from Spillers.
Business in the early days was challenging and
the staff would often need to remain at the
workshop until after midnight to ensure the day’s
work had been completed.

5
T H E C L E M E N T C L A R K E C E N T E N A RY 1 9 1 7 - 2 0 1 7 T H E F I R S T 1 0 0 Y E A R S
Clarke's obvious interest in ophthalmic
instruments was pursued with the same vigour
and enthusiasm as his original entry into
dispensing optics. After the company's first
sale of compasses to the War Office in 1917, he
actively promoted other instruments that were
available at the time. The first of these was the
original Malton self-luminous ophthalmoscope.
In 1921, he was introduced to Edgar Fincham
and H.H. Emsley, both of whom assisted in the
design of the Clement Clarke ‘Elliot Halometer’.
This initial association was the beginning of a long
and rewarding partnership which would benefit
the design of British ophthalmic instruments for
many years. In the years which proceeded, Clarke
encouraged Fincham to undertake development of
the first British ‘slit lamp’ in 1924.
The Family Man Dedicated
to Charitable Work
Clement Clarke had four children: two daughters,
Marie and Diana, and two sons, Alex, born in 1907
and John, born in 1921. Both sons joined their
father in the family business and would later both
become Chairman.
Clarke loved the town of Whitstable and the allure
of the sea and had moved to the town in 1917
where he remained until the late 1930s.
Professional career aside, he was a member
of many organisations and was active in both
charities and local politics. From 1923 to 1926 he
was a member of the Whitstable Urban District
Council and for some years, was a prominent
member of the Tankerton Hospital Committee of
Management. Whilst in this post, he instigated and
formed a voluntary organisation called the ‘X-Ray
Boys’ which focused on a variety of fundraising
activities with the purpose of providing the
Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital with its first
X-ray equipment.
The End of an Era
Clarke remained dedicated to innovation and
experimental work until his death in July 1946. He
had been heavily involved in the development of
specialist diagnostic and training equipment for
the Air Ministry during the Second World War. His
key innovations during this period included the
development of the famous MKIV flying goggles,
night vision testing equipment and plastic artificial
eyes. Difficult wartime conditions left their mark
on Clarke’s health and following his death, Clarke’s
son Alex became the new company Chairman.
John Clarke re-joined the company after serving
his country in the RAF as a navigator and would
also one day serve as Chairman. Both sons were
determined to continue their father’s legacy.

The roaring twenties was a decade characterised by
flapper girls and jazz music, though was also a time
of massive unemployment and deprivation. In 1921,
unemployment reached a post-war high of almost 2.5
million. In contrast, manufacturing was flourishing and
companies which had supplied goods needed for the
war effort prospered.
The 1920s were seen as an entrepreneurial and
innovative time for optical, scientific and industrial
development. This was particularly evident in the
British ophthalmic industry which was recovering at
an accelerated rate, building on traditional strengths
in manufacturing, coupled with newer pioneering
designs in ophthalmic instrumentation.
Clarke grew the business substantially during this
time, moving to new premises, opening additional
branches UK-wide and expanding manufacturing
facilities. It was also an exciting and inventive period
for the company with the launch of new diagnostic
devices.
1917-1929
First British Slit Lamp
Developed
During the 1920s a long and rewarding partnership
developed between Clement Clarke and leading
surgeons and innovators Edgar Fincham and H.H.
Emsley. This partnership benefited the design of British
instruments for many years and pioneered the previously
non-existent cooperation between the surgeon and the
physicist.
Clarke encouraged Edgar Fincham to take on extensive
development work and, in 1924, Clarke produced the first British slit
lamp. The Fincham slit lamp developed microphotographs showing
sections of the human retina and was the first to combine the
illuminating and viewing systems. The new ability to adjust both of
these features simultaneously enabled a much faster and simpler
clinical examination for the busy surgeon.
NATIONAL EYE SERVICE
IS CONCEIVED
Clarke set up his first eye clinic in Ealing in
1928. He believed that the patient would be
better served if refraction was performed
by an ophthalmic surgeon, which would
usually only be possible by arranging a
costly private appointment. The British
Medical Association approached Clarke for
guidance in operating a scheme that could
provide the general public with the facilities
of a consulting surgeon at a moderate cost.
As a result of this, the National Eye Service
was coined. This marked the beginning of a
new approach to eye care and would later
be used as a model for the NHS provision of
ophthalmic services.
6

Fincham
Ophthalmoscope
Launched
In 1926, Clement Clarke and Edgar
Fincham developed the Fincham
ophthalmoscope which retailed
at just £9, including the battery
and case!
The growth in the UK
manufacturing industry following
the end of WWI was reflected in the
sales of Clement Clarke products.
As the volume of sales increased, it
was necessary for Clement Clarke
Ltd. to expand manufacturing
facilities. In 1927, a new workshop
was opened in Torquay to cater for
the needs of local customers.
Shortly afterwards, a new factory,
the Hanwell Optical Company, was
also opened in Letchworth. Here,
they undertook prescription frame
making and repair work.
CLEMENT
CLARKE
EXPANDS
After opening the first branch
outside London in Torquay
in 1920, Clement Clarke
Dispensing Opticians expanded
rapidly. During the next few
years, branches were opened
regularly and by 1929, ten
retail stores were in operation
throughout the United
Kingdom.
The Ophthalmic Industry Grows
7

The 1930s marked Britain's largest and most profound
economic depression of the 20th century. Particularly
hardest hit were the industrial and mining areas in
the North of England and Wales. The Midlands and
the South fared better, largely due to new developing
industries in these areas. On the 3rd September
1939, Britain declared war on Germany and mass
enlistment soon followed.
The early 1930s saw a boom in the development of
synthetic plastics which would open up a wealth of
possibilities in many future UK industries. Eminent
surgeons were beginning to explore and develop
the art of plastic surgery and facial reconstruction
prosthesis. This ground-breaking work was prompted
by those living with horrific injuries sustained during
WWI.
Clarke was determined not to let the economic
depression affect the company and continued to
expand its number of branches. Clement Clarke Ltd.
shifted production from surgical devices to orthoptic
equipment and plastic contact lenses. The decade
also saw the company embark on innovative work in
prosthetics and the development of both plastic lenses
and acrylic artificial eyes. Both of these would go on
to be important developments in the war effort. At the
start of WWII, the company set up an emergency fund,
financed by staff, to assist those severely affected by
the conflict.
1930 -1939
FIRST
SYNOPTOPHORE
LAUNCHED
The 1930s witnessed Clement Clarke Ltd’s
involvement in producing a host of vital new
products for the ophthalmic profession. The development
of the first Synoptophore greatly enhanced the company’s
growing reputation. Its basic function was to correct a
squint by muscular exercise, rather than surgery, whilst
simultaneously improving the vision in the offending eye.
The first models were named the ‘Royal Westminster’ and the
‘Moorfields’ and were launched in the UK in 1931.
ALLIED INSTRUMENT
MANUFACTURERS
(AIM) FOUNDED
In 1937, Allied Instrument Manufacturers
(AIM) was established by Clement Clarke
in Pratt Street, Camden Town.
The new company was a joint
manufacturing venture between Clement
Clarke Ltd., C. W. Dixey & Son Ltd, Alfred
Hawes & Son Ltd and Curry & Paxton
Ltd. The pooled resources allowed the
companies to work from a properly-
equipped factory, enabling the improved
manufacture of devices.
8

Optical products
were not the only thing
which interested Clarke.
In 1934, the first attempt
to produce facial
restoration was made
in Wigmore Street. It
consisted of a thin
silver-plated copper
mask which was
painted to match the
patient’s skin colour.
Although crude, this was a great
success and allowed the patient to resume a normal life. Encouraged
by their previous success and requests from the medical profession,
experiments were conducted to find a more suitable material. Clement
Clarke Ltd. obtained the rights to use a gelatinous compound which had
been pioneered in Hungary by Professor Skutta Árpád and, as a result,
the Prosthetics Department was formed.
The success of the Prosthetics Department resulted in the company being
approached by Westmore Brothers Studio in Hollywood and Britain’s Pinewood
Studios to produce prosthetics for the 1930s film industry.
Contact Lens
Production Begins
In 1935, Clement Clarke Ltd. began
producing ‘first-class’ plastic contact
lenses in Wigmore Street. Clarke’s lens
technician, E. Plaice, was trained at
Utrecht University under Professor Weve
and Dr. Thier in the art and production
of plastic contact lenses. These would
mainly be used for service personnel,
such as night-fighter pilots during WWII.
Although the company’s efforts were
mainly focused on manufacturing
moulded glass haptic contact lenses,
the technique of making plastic contact
lenses was developed in collaboration
with the Royal Marsden Hospital,
originally in producing lead eye shells for
protection against deep ray therapy of
the orbit.
John Clarke began his career within Clement
Clarke Ltd. in 1937 at the age of 15, starting at Idris
Yard, Camden Town (Clement Clarke’s Instrument
Department). In 1939, he joined the RAF as a
navigator to contribute to the war effort and served
until 1946. John’s career with the company went on
to span nearly 50 years.
Plastic Lenses & Artificial
Eyes Developed
During the early 1930s Clement Clarke’s
Instrument Department worked with
COIL in the development of plastic
lenses. The high-quality spectacle lenses,
branded ‘Igard lenses’, were produced
by pressing two pre-formed Perspex blanks between optically-polished
stainless steel tools. Spectacle lenses were strictly rationed during WWII,
so a steady supply of Igard lenses significantly helped the company’s
spectacle sales both during the war and immediately afterwards.
In September 1939, England declared war on Germany and the supply
of German-made glass artificial eyes ceased. Research immediately
commenced to find a substitute, resulting in Clement Clarke Ltd.
experimenting and developing the first plastic artificial eye made from
acrylic resin. The work included the fitting of artificial eyes for children
who had been blinded by the bombs.
The company was continually
expanding and, by 1939, 36
branches were in operation,
all operating with National
Eye Service clinics.
THE FORMATION OF A PROSTHETICS
DEPARTMENT
John Clarke Joins the Company
9

The start of the decade saw the British people
enduring the bombing of towns and cities in the Blitz.
Rationing of food began in January 1940 and, by 1943,
virtually every household item was either in short
supply or was unobtainable. As the war ended, the
British Treasury was near bankruptcy and the period
known as the Age of Austerity began.
During the early 1940s, the British government
mobilised its citizens and, by 1944, a third of the
civilian population were engaged in war work,
including over seven million women. Factories
switched from the manufacture and assembly of
usual products to the production of armaments and
other items for the war effort.
The New Towns Act of 1946 led to the expansion of
towns around London, such as Harlow, in order to
accommodate the capital’s population overspill and led
to the creation of new industrial centres.
The NHS began operations in July 1948, promising to
give ‘cradle to grave’ free hospital and medical care for
everyone.
There was a sharp rise in births during these post-
war years – the so-called ‘Baby Boom’. This led to
the development of the company’s first respiratory
product, an anaesthetic machine, used during
childbirth.
The company designed and manufactured numerous
items for the war effort, including goggles, instruments
for night vision, oxygen masks and headsets. When
the war ended on the 2nd September 1945, difficult
wartime conditions had left their mark on the
company’s dispensing branches, as it was estimated
that one in three opticians had been called-up.
1940 -1949
Sighted Safety Lenses
for the War Effort
Clement Clarke and Squadron
Leader Philip Livingston had begun
a close collaborative relationship in
1929 when they worked together
on the development of anti-glare
spectacles and goggles which had
been used to help pilots in the
strong Iraqi sun.
At the beginning of WWII, Livingston
requested the expertise of Clarke
to begin work on the development
of a new kind of innovative
RAF flying goggle, incorporating
interchangeable, sight-corrective
lenses. This Clement Clarke-patented
invention became known as the
MKIV flying goggle.
This proved to be a highly fruitful
collaboration and resulted in the
development of many RAF sight
testing and training apparatus for
pilots. Livingston wanted to relax
the testing standards as too many
good pilots were failing medical
examinations. Working together,
Livingston and Clarke
developed tests and equipment that
would help retrain and correct the
sight of competent pilots. Some of
the equipment produced included
the Livingston Threshold test, the
Tilting Table test, the Rotating
Perception test, Night Vision testing
equipment, Binocular Gauge and
the adoption of orthoptic training
in the RAF – notably, the use of the
Synoptophore to help train and
correct the pilot’s defective vision.
These changes in the medical
selection process made it possible
for the RAF to put forward an
additional 2,000 pilots for training
duties – an increase of some
30 squadrons. This undoubtedly
contributed to the success of the
Battle of Britain and the RAF’s air
supremacy during the conflict.
Over 650,000 pairs of goggles were
supplied to the RAF, making Clement
Clarke Ltd. the largest contractor of
sighted goggles during WWII.
Production of Oxygen
Masks Commences
Following the company’s success
in the development of the MKIV
flying goggle, Clement Clarke Ltd.
was approached by the Air Ministry
to manufacture the new ‘E’ Type
RAF oxygen mask for the rapidly-
expanding squadrons. In 1942,
Airborne Equipment formed as a
subsidiary of Clement Clarke Ltd.
Initially located in a back garden
shed in Hastingwood, Essex,
production soon increased and
larger premises and more staff
were needed. By the end of the
war, many thousands of masks had
been produced.
1 0

Artificial Eye Contract
Awarded by War Office
Following the perfection of the
artificial eye, Clement Clarke Ltd.
was asked to investigate the
possibility of mass-producing
these eyes for use in the services
during the latter part of the war. In
1944, a contract for 30,000 eyes of
differing sizes and various colours
was received from the War Office.
Handmade methods were too
slow, so the company developed a
compression moulding technique
using ICI acrylic powder and
incorporating a photographic iris. As
all existing production space was
fully occupied, a special laboratory
was opened in Whitstable, Kent to
undertake the work.
During the war, Clarke
took on the majority of
responsibility for the
running of the company.
Many of his staff were on
active service, as were
his sons, John and Alex.
This burden took its toll
on Clarke’s health and he
died suddenly in 1946.
His death was met with
great sadness by all who
worked for him. His eldest
son, Alex Clement Clarke
became the company’s
new Chairman.
C L E M E N T C L A R K E D I E S
THE FIRST RESPIRATORY
PRODUCT
The company’s first association with respiratory
equipment came in the late 1940s with
the development of an early inhaler. This
development, along with the company’s
involvement in the production of oxygen masks
during WWII, led to Dr. H.R. Marrett approaching
the company with his revolutionary new general
anaesthetic machine. The machine, known as the
Marrett Head, recycled carbon dioxide, which was
a true innovation in its day.
Under Managing Director
George Dickinson, Clement
Clarke was approached to
develop the Marrett Head
commercially and an initial
production run of machines
was commissioned by the War Office.
Due to product demand, in 1949 additional space
was rented above AIM Parkway to increase the
production facility. Clement Clarke Ltd. filed patents
on a new portable anaesthesia inhaler called Airlene,
used by midwifes for an expanding population of ‘Baby Boomers’.
Introduction of the NHS
After the war, the government were intent on
improving the country’s social services and, as part of
these plans, decided to introduce a National Health
Service. The organisation of the proposed optical
services was helped by the experience gained in
running the National Eye Service (an idea originally
conceived and adopted by Clarke during the 1920s).
In 1948, the new service became available and the offer of free optical
care and spectacles resulted in chaos. Unsurprisingly, the optical trade was
inundated with work. Material was in short supply and manufacturing capacity
was completely inadequate. This deluge led to long delays and much criticism
of the optical profession. It was not until the first charge was imposed on
spectacles that business returned to a more stable level.
CHANGE OF NAME
In 1947, Airborne Equipment
changed its name, becoming Airmed
Ltd., a name which would later
become synonymous with headset
quality. Shortly afterwards, John
Clarke became the Works Director
for the newly-formed company.
1 1

Conditions in post-war Britain had been grim and
previous levels of prosperity did not return until the
1950s. British manufacturers dominated the home
market and in 1952, they produced a third of the
national output, employed 40% of the workforce and
made up a quarter of world manufacturing exports.
Many people today nostalgically regard post-war
Britain as the golden age of the Welfare State. The
new NHS instantly became Britain's largest employer
and, by the beginning of the 1950s, spending on
the NHS was exceeding expectations. In 1952, this
led to the introduction of a one-shilling charge for
prescriptions. The General Optical Council (GOC) was
formed on 7th July 1958 when a sight test cost just
two shillings.
London's Great Smog of 1952, which killed 4,000
people and affected 100,000 more, resulted in
thousands of additional cases of asthma. It is
suggested that the health effects of the Great Smog
likely still persist today.
The company continued to develop products to meet
the needs and demands of the day, most notably,
the design and manufacture of the Wright Peak Flow
Meter which was developed to enable the diagnosis
and management of asthma. The decade also saw
Clement Clarke Ltd.’s entry into the communications
market, integrating microphones within oxygen
masks, which led to the mass-production of state-
of-the-art headsets. In 1958, the company became
one of Britain’s largest private optometry dispensing
retailer outlets.
1950 -1959
In 1951, production moved from AIM Parkway to the Temple Fields
Estate in Harlow, becoming the first factory in the new town. This
relocation enabled both the medical and aviation communications
operations to be integrated within a single factory. Production of
general anaesthetics machines was also moved to the new premises,
along with oxygen masks and flow meters.
THE MOVE
TO HARLOW
Appointed Haag-Streit
AG Distributor
In 1958, Clement Clarke Ltd. became the UK
distributor for Haag-Streit AG. This enabled the
company to adopt Haag-Streit’s
world-class slit lamps, Goldmann tonometers
and kinetic perimeter.
12

During WWII, the company’s general activities in the production and assembly
of oxygen masks included the integration of microphones. This business
continued into the 1950s and, with the renewal of Ministry of Defence
contracts, led to the development of telecommunications headsets, marking
the company’s entry into the communications market.
In 1958, Clement Clarke Ltd. worked in conjunction with the British
Overseas Airways Corporation to develop the first Civil Aviation Authority-
approved Lyta headset for use with a mask in the event of
decompression.
The same year also
saw the company’s
entry into the private
flying market with the
launch of the Airlite
62 headset.
The development of the Airlene Inhaler
Having recognised the need for portable anaesthesia, the company worked with Lawrence
A. Cox to develop the Airlene Inhaler, which utilised a new anaesthetic agent from ICI called
Trilene. The company started commercialising the product in both the UK and USA in the
early 1950s and users were convinced it would become the new standard of care. However,
the development of increasingly effective and safer products would supersede both Airlene
and Trilene, whereupon they faded into history.
The Start of the
Wright Partnership
Clement Clarke Ltd. began a
highly-successful partnership with
Dr. B.M. Wright of the Medical Research
Council. This resulted in the development
of the first portable peak flow meter – aptly
named the Wright Peak
Flow Meter.
The Wright Peak Flow
Meter played an important
role in providing objective
measurement of airway
narrowing, thus facilitating
the diagnosis and
management of asthma
for millions of patients
worldwide.
John Clarke Becomes Chairman
Sadly, in 1958, Alex Clarke died suddenly. By this time, the
company had overcome the issues associated with the
advent of the NHS, which Alex had been actively involved
in. Clarke’s younger son, John Clarke, succeeded Alex as
Chairman and took up his new position in the company’s
headquarters based in Harcourt House, Cavendish Square.
This was a new role for John as he would now be working
with both dispensing branches and the Hanwell Optical
Company for the first time.
An Entry Into Telecommunications
13

The ‘swinging 60s’ is considered a period of
undoubted prosperity and cultural and social change.
Despite the economic weaknesses and a decline
in the relative competitiveness of the UK economy,
the 1960s was still an era of full employment and
rising real wages. In fact, there were serious labour
shortages in the manufacturing industry.
The original intention at the start of the NHS was
that sight testing should be carried out in hospital
ophthalmology departments. However, lengthy
waiting lists encouraged services to be developed
beyond this. Sight testing services by opticians were
finally recognised under the Health Services & Public
Health Act 1968, which made provision for General
Ophthalmic Services of sight testing and the supply of
spectacles. Due to an economic downturn, 1968 also
saw the reintroduction of previously abolished NHS
prescription charges by Prime Minister, Harold Wilson.
The growth and prosperity in the 1960s is reflected
in a period of extensive development and expansion
within Clement Clarke Ltd. The company invested
considerably in the modernisation of existing outlets
as well as expanding the number of shops the group
had in operation. The spirit of innovation was as
evident at this time as it had been in the early days,
illustrated through the development of the Friedmann
Visual Field Analyser and the advancement of Airlite
headsets to meet the ever-changing needs of the
1960s communications market.
1960 -1969
CONTINUED GROWTH
& EXPANSION
Under John Clarke’s leadership, the 1960s were a time of huge
growth and redevelopment for Clement Clarke Ltd. By 1968, the
company had 48 optician shops and over 560 employees. Export
sales also grew, with overseas sales representing 33% of turnover
of instruments sold by the group.
To finance future growth, it was decided that the company
should go public. In 1969, Clement Clarke Holdings PLC was
formed, and was responsible for the financial control of
the various trading outlets and the management of future
expansion.
In order to satisfy
the increased demand for spectacles,
a huge programme of modernisation and
reorganisation commenced at manufacturing
subsidiary Hanwell Optical Company Ltd. State
-of-the-art automatic machinery was installed,
and plans were made to concentrate production
in two factories instead of three.
Modernisation Programme
Undertaken
14

Airlite Headsets
used on Concorde
Throughout the 1960s, the
telecommunications range of
equipment continued to be
marketed under the Airmed and
Airlite brands. The company was,
by this time, operating from a
large factory of 20,000 square
feet and exporting worldwide.
The highly-specialised headsets
continued to be favoured by
the Ministry of Defence for use
on ships and submarines, and
there was also an extensive and
growing use of the expanding
range of headsets in airport
ground control and civil aircraft.
The range continued to be
improved and enhanced to meet
the changing demands of the
market. When civil aviation went
‘supersonic’, the headsets were
adopted for use in the prestigious
Concorde.
Improving the understanding of asthma
The 1960s was an era of fundamental research in asthma medication
and management. Treatments that opened airways and prevented airway
inflammation were undergoing intensive research. The development of
the first inhaled steroid was only made possible by the careful selection of
patients using peak flow measurements. Today, steroids are the mainstay of
asthma management, benefiting millions of patients.
Dr. Ian Gregg, working at the Brompton hospital in London, embarked on
a study of over 2,500 people that established normal values for peak flow
measurement. Dr. Gregg formed a close association with Clement Clarke
Limited, advising the respiratory team on the clinical implications of the
company’s developments.
The instrument was designed to
examine the central visual fields and
helped with the early diagnosis of
glaucoma.
The Friedmann VFA was regarded
as simple to use and was the
fastest and most sensitive
instrument available in this area
of ophthalmology at the time. It
checked the sensitivity of the eye
within a 25 degree central field
of vision.The patient viewed an
intermittently projected electronic
flash through a series of hole
patterns.
The instrument became instantly
popular and continued to gain
success through the 1970s and early
1980s.
Friedmann Visual Field
Analyser Launched
The company worked closely with Mr Alan I.
Friedmann to develop the first visual field analyser,
launched in 1967. Friedmann worked at the Royal
Eye Hospital in London and the Friedmann Visual
Field Analyser (VFA) was the first quantitative static
measurement system.
Artificial Eye
Production Continues
During the 1960s, Clement Clarke
Ltd. continued to produce hand-
made artificial plastic eyes at
Wigmore Street where they were
cleverly able to exactly match
the colouring and size for each
individual patient.
While the eyes were more
commonly used for war veterans
who had been injured while
serving their country, the company
also received some humorous
requests for special eyes. One lady
yacht-woman requested a spare
eye with her club burgee painted
on the iris! Similarly, a West-
Country farmer asked for a special
bloodshot ‘drinking’ eye to be
created, in order for it to match his
good eye at the end of farmers’
union functions!
15

The 1970s
proved to be
one of the most
challenging
economic
decades since
the 1930s. It
was an era of
industrial confrontation, rampant inflation and an
unwelcome return of mass unemployment. The post-
war economic boom had come to an end.
Prices of goods and raw materials began to rise
sharply and the exchange rate between the pound
and other currencies was unstable. Many industries
and services were affected by strikes, causing friction
between the trade unions and the government.
Britain joined the European Economic Community,
more widely known as the Common Market, on 1st
January 1973. Despite being given access to the
biggest market in the world, greater competition from
the continent would have a massive effect on Britain’s
manufacturing industries for decades to come. The
NHS was reorganised in 1974 to form Regional Health
Authorities.
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher was elected as the
country's first female Prime Minister.
Despite the difficult economic climate, the company
saw a huge period of invention. Working with
respected pioneers in the ophthalmic and respiratory
fields resulted in the launch of innovative products
such as the Perkins Mk1 Tonometer and Mini-Wright
Peak Flow Meter. The company’s headset range
became CAA-approved and it experienced substantial
growth in sales of its Airlite brand. The company also
expanded through acquisition, with the purchase of
John Weiss & Son Ltd.
1970 -1979
In the early 1970s, the ophthalmic
division of Clement Clarke Ltd. was
amalgamated with Airmed and
the company was reformed under
the new name Clement Clarke
International (CCI).
The headquarters of the
company were located in Harlow
and provided unified design,
manufacturing and sales of all the
group’s products under one roof,
including ophthalmic diagnostic,
medical, aircraft and industrial
instruments.
By the late 1970s, CCI had 95
optical retail outlets, comprising
68 dispensing branches and 27
ophthalmic opticians.
Airlite headsets
dominate the
market
By 1975, Airlite headsets
dominated the private flying
market with most products
approved by the Civil Aviation
Authority. The Ministry of Defence
remained a major customer and
the range was also used in TV
and film studios, as well as in
ballooning expeditions, including
altitude records.
CLEMENT CLARKE
INTERNATIONAL IS
FORMED
16

Partnerships with Pioneers
in Glaucoma Management
The 1970s saw major innovation with
CCI working extensively with medical
professionals and physicists, continuing
the pattern of invention started in the 1920s.
The company worked particularly closely
with Professor Edward S. Perkins and Mr
Alan I. Friedmann, both considered pioneers
of modern glaucoma management.
In 1965, Professor Perkins developed a
prototype hand-held applanation tonometer at the Department of
Experimental Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University
of London. Partnering with CCI, clinical trials were published in 1969.
During this time, with the production of the Friedmann VFA still in
full swing, Friedmann assisted with the development of the Perkins
tonometer by trialling aspects of the new Mk1 device as a beta
tester.
In 1971, the Perkins Mk1 tonometer was manufactured and
launched, with immediate success.Accolades followed and, in 1975,
the Perkins Mk1 won the Design Council Award, presented by the
Duke of Edinburgh.
During 1977, initial designs for the Diag hand-held portable slit lamp
with keratometer attachment were drawn up.The Diag became the
precursor to the Haag-Streit OM
900 Ophthalmometer/
Keratometer.
Professor Perkins
frequently discussed the
use of the Diag to measure
the curvature of the cornea
and the axis of rotation of
the eye in myopia studies
at this time.
CCI
continued
its innovative work
with Dr. B.M. Wright and built on
the epidemiological work of Dr.
Ian Gregg and Dr. Andrew Nunn,
establishing ‘normal values’
for peak flow which made the
peak flow meter a ‘must-have’
diagnostic tool.
With widely-recognised utility, the
need existed for a lower-cost,
but still highly-accurate, plastic
device that was
suitable for large-
scale manufacture.
This development created the
plastic peak flow gauge which
launched in 1972 with support
from Allen & Hanburys Ltd., (now
GSK, who remain to this day a
major CCI customer). Further
improvements followed rapidly
with the Mini-Wright Peak Flow
Meter launched in 1976.
The Mini-Wright Peak Flow Meter
became widely-accepted because
of its accuracy, affordability and
portability. Numerous clinical
studies were made and data from
the Mini-Wright has underpinned
most modern asthma treatments.
It proceeded to win the Design
Council Award in the 1980s.
Bringing 184
years of experience into the Group!
The company’s policy of controlled expansion was
further strengthened with the purchase of John
Weiss & Son Ltd. from Mappin & Webb Ltd.
John Weiss & Son Ltd’s origins extended back to
the 18th Century when John Weiss, an Austrian
immigrant, arrived in London, forming the company
in 1787. It has been designing and manufacturing
high-quality surgical instruments for the ophthalmic
industry ever since.
The retail element of the business operated from
a modern showroom in Wigmore St., London,
whilst the manufacturing facilities were located in a
separate factory unit, also in central London.
This acquisition expanded the group’s interest
in optics as well as complementing its range in
diagnostic and medical instruments,
both at home and
overseas.
John Weiss
continues to be the
leading domestic
brand and today
boasts over 3,000
instruments in its
portfolio, successfully
exporting to over 40
countries worldwide.
Broadening the Use of Peak
Flow Measurement
17

The 1980s
was a period
of economic
volatility. The
decade started
in severe
recession with
unemployment
rising to three
million in 1981 – a figure which continued for much
of the ensuing ten years. After recovering from
recession, the UK experienced a long period of
economic expansion. Towards the end of the decade
the growth rate reached record post-war levels.
Thatcherism dominated the glossy and brash 1980s.
Under PM Margaret Thatcher’s premiership the
Conservative Party introduced widespread economic
reforms including the privatisation of industries and
the deregulation of stock markets. The decade also
experienced a ‘property bubble’ and poor industrial
relations resulted in major industrial action, notably
the beleaguered 1984-5 miners' strike.
In 1982, Thatcher promised Britons that the NHS is
"safe in our hands" and in 1985, the optical market
dispensing function (supply of spectacles) was
deregulated. This fuelled intense competition, to the
benefit of both patients and the wider NHS. Patients
were empowered by the introduction of the optical
voucher scheme which contributed to a rapid growth
in the use of spectacles and contact lenses, and
influenced the improvement of clinical standards in
sight testing.
Before 1985, the technology of sight testing had
shown little change in the previous 60 years. The
1980s, however, saw a rapid rise in standards with
new technology improving the accuracy of sight
testing, enabling practitioners to detect conditions
earlier via screening.
The deregulation of the optical market resulted in the
sale of the company’s dispensing optician stores and
the divestment of the non-dispensing optics business
to Haag-Streit AG.
1980 -1989
The Perkins Mk2 hand-held tonometer was developed
and manufactured in 1985. Upon launch, it sold 1,500
units in the first year, securing its position as the number
one portable tonometer in the UK ophthalmic market,
replacing the popular Perkins Mk1.
Production of the Synoptophore (Major Amblyoscope)
– previously undertaken by an external manufacturer –
was moved to the company’s Harlow premises in order
to improve the quality of the manufacturing process and
better manage the supply chain.
The company continued to develop and launch
other new ophthalmic products, including the
Videophotorefractor, Steinbach Contrast Sensitivity Test
and CXL 2 portable slit lamp system.
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF NEW
OPHTHALMIC
PRODUCTS
18

CCI Purchased by
Haag-Streit AG
CCI was offered as a going concern by
Boots PLC and was purchased by the
highly-respected Haag-Streit AG optical
group of companies in 1989.
This marked a massive expansion
by Haag-Streit AG which, under the
directorship of Walter Inäbnit, also
purchased similar organisations in the
USA, Germany and Switzerland at this
time.This formed the internationally-
renowned Haag-Streit Group we know
today, which presently operates in
more than 20 countries throughout
Europe,America and the Far East and
employs over 1,000 staff.
New
Distributor
Partners
Throughout the
decade the
company’s
core strategy
was to develop
its product portfolio
through partnership.
During this time, CCI forged
a number of important
relationships, many of which
are still going strong today.
Ophthalmic distributor
agreements were signed
with Luneau, Canon and
Sonomed. This enabled the
organisation to expand
its portfolio of ‘practice
essential’ products,
such as eye charts,
prisms and lenses, and
also provide a more
comprehensive range of
larger diagnostic devices,
such as retinal cameras and
ultrasound equipment.
In 1987, Haag-Streit AG launched the BQ 900 slit lamp, and CCI
became its UK distributor. The BQ 900 soon became the standard
for those requiring advanced slit lamp microscopy. It proved to be
one of the most popular Haag-Streit slit lamps and is still purchased
by UK eye departments today.
In 1987, all of the company’s UK-wide dispensing optician stores were sold to
the high street pharmacy chain, Boots PLC. In addition, Boots PLC procured
Curry & Paxton Ltd. – an acquisition which resulted in the formation of Boots
Opticians Ltd. forming the UK’s second largest retail optics chain.
The sale of dispensing optician shops enabled CCI to focus on and invest in
its ophthalmic equipment business. This paved the way for the development,
manufacture and launch of a number of new products.
Boots Opticians is
Established in the UK
19

Margaret
Thatcher
resigned on
22nd November
1990 and was
succeeded by
John Major. The
UK experienced
a major period
of depression in the early 1990s – officially the longest
in Britain since the Great Depression some 60 years
earlier. This was characterised by the infamous ‘Black
Wednesday’ of September 1992 and the crash of
pound sterling, resulting in mass unemployment and
social discontent.
1993 marked the end of the recession with the UK
and Ireland experiencing rapid economic growth and
falling unemployment which continued throughout
the decade.
In May 1997, a new Labour government came into
power under the leadership of PM Tony Blair.
The 1990s saw great advances in technology, notably
the invention of the World Wide Web which would go
on to become the key business tool used throughout
all industries and sectors.
The Blair government introduced a number of
strategies to cut unemployment, including an
expansion of the public sector. There followed a focus
on NHS reforms to combat the rising costs of medical
technology and medicines, and a desire to increase
standards against a backdrop of an ageing population.
This included the controversial outsourcing of medical
services to private health companies.
In 1996, the company moved to larger premises
in Harlow. This enabled a substantial investment
in state-of-the-art factory machinery to increase
manufacturing output and meet growing consumer
demand.
1990 -1999
Joining the Haag-Streit Group strengthened CCI’s position as a major
player in the ophthalmic, respiratory and communications industries
and further enhanced its reputation. Becoming part of a global Group
offered exciting opportunities to penetrate further markets throughout
the world, and export sales grew dramatically in the early 1990s.
Throughout the decade, with the backing of the wider Haag-Streit
Group, the company invested heavily in research and development to
design future ophthalmic, respiratory and telecommunication products.
In addition, major awareness campaigns were undertaken to promote
and build the Haag-Streit brand in the UK and the organisation worked
closely with other Haag-Streit companies worldwide, forging valuable
partnerships that still exist today.
INVESTMENT,
EXPANSION &
DEVELOPMENT
In 1996, the company launched
a new portable slit lamp.
Boasting dual functionality,
the BA 904’s ergonomic
design enabled both handheld
examinations and traditional-
style examinations, using the
easy-to-assemble head and
chin rest.
The 904’s hand-held operation
allowed it to be used to examine patients who could not
comfortably sit at a larger slit lamp, for example, paediatric,
wheelchair-bound or bed-ridden patients.
New Portable Slit Lamp
with Haag-Streit Optics
20

With strong growth in peak flow meter sales due to
prescription availability, it became increasingly important to
manufacture the Mini-Wright on a large scale.To meet this
objective, CCI invested in automation and the Lanco line
was installed in the new premises in Harlow.
It was also important to become less reliant on a single
technology and so a period of innovation and investment
commenced.This saw the development of a range of
portable electronic spirometers: the VM1,VMX and VM Plus.
The organisation also created the In-Check which focused
attention on the importance of inspiratory flow in the correct
use of portable inhalers.
In 1996, the company acquired and integrated the popular
Medix range of nebulisers, transferring production to Harlow. It
also launched the Able Spacer and Flutter. These important steps laid
the cornerstones of the business today.
Designed by Professors D.G. Pelli, J.G. Robson, and A.J.Wilkins, the Pelli-Robson Contrast
Sensitivity Test measures the ability to differentiate between light and dark (contrast).
The testing of contrast sensitivity on a regular basis is key to detecting early signs of
diseases such as Parkinson’s, glaucoma, and cataracts.The Pelli-Robson quickly became,
and still remains, the gold-standard.
In 1998, the company worked closely with Professor Robson to secure an agreement to
manufacture and distribute the Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity chart worldwide.
Expanding Our Position in
the Respiratory Market
Clement Clarke Communications’ varied range, which boasted
excellent noise attenuation and audio quality, offered specialist
headsets for multiple applications, from general office use to the
harshest operational environments.
The company continued to be awarded prestigious contracts with the
Ministry of Defence, the RAF and NATO and its products were keenly
adopted by the emergency services, air traffic control operators,TV/
radio stations and national airlines.
1991 saw the launch of the Airlite Delta 100, which was developed for
the aviation industry – more specifically, helicopter and private flyers.
Further product launches included the Airlite 91 and Airlite 2003T.
Tonosafe – a Global Success Story
In 1996, the company began designing a disposable
tonometer prism in response to the threat of cross-
infection, specifically HIV and herpes simplex.
Launched in June 1998,Tonosafe was a low-cost,
disposable prism, which reduced the risk of infection
without compromising the performance of Goldmann
applanation tonometers.
Tonosafe has evolved to become a major, global
success story. Still manufactured in the UK and
undergoing continuous investment and development,
Tonosafe is sold in 137 different countries worldwide
and is recognised as the gold-standard in disposable
applanation tonometer prisms
CCC Awarded
Prestigious
Headset
Contracts
The
Pelli-Robson
Contrast Sensitivity Test
21

2000- PRESENT DAY
At the turn of the 21st century,
HS-UK refocused on both its core
UK-manufactured products and gold-
standard Haag-Streit AG devices.
The company has continued to
invest in the development of
established products, such as the
Perkins hand-held tonometer, BA
904 slit lamp and Synoptophore.
These instruments continue to be
embraced worldwide and are still
considered the gold-standard today.
Sustained growth in the sales of
Tonosafe has been the direct result
of ongoing investment in pioneering
manufacturing technology. This
has guaranteed the high-quality
standards that hundreds of
thousands of Tonosafe disposable
prism users take for granted.
HS-UK has continued to distribute
and support the comprehensive
Haag-Streit slit lamp family in
hospital ophthalmic clinics UK-
wide. Still recognised as the best
in the world, HS-UK continues to
ensure that the service and support
provided reflects the quality of the
slit lamp products.
The company is also keenly-
focused on the Octopus perimeter,
widely seen as the successor to
the Goldmann, and the LENSTAR
biometer – a device that continues
to revolutionise the field of cataract
diagnosis.
Since 2010, CCI has filed six patents and published more
than 30 scientific articles on product development. The
A2A, Able Spacer and DispozABLE Spacer devices are
now its biggest selling product group. In addition, it has
also developed the Flo-Tone inhaler technique whistle
which guides patients to better inhaler use. The company
also continues to create revolutionary training tools for
pharmaceutical companies. CCI has pioneered the use
of antimicrobial polymers to help maintain the hygiene
of its devices and has collaborated with academics – the
University of Manchester, for example – to create mobile
apps to support the acceptability of CCI products.
Today, CCI stands at the forefront of the respiratory
medical device sector, is highly-respected as an
innovator and is the first point of contact for inhaler
technique training.
A FOCUS ON CORE PRODUCTS
CCI Expands its Nebuliser & Disposable Range
Having acquired and transferred the Medix nebuliser business,
CCI extended this activity in 2002 by
also obtaining the Lifecare range
of nebuliser and oxygen therapy
disposables. Medix nebulisers and
Lifecare accessories are still widely
used by the NHS, often in life-saving
situations. They stand out as robust
and reliable devices that provide many
years of service.
CCI transferred manufacture of Lifecare
to Harlow in 2011, building a modern
moulding facility to ensure excellent
component quality.
CCI Rekindles Innovation
In 2001, the government increased taxes and borrowing
for additional spending on public services, notably
the NHS. The economy shifted from manufacturing,
which had been declining since the 1960s, and grew
due to the services and financial sectors, while the
public sector continued to expand. Unemployment
was consistently below 1.5m during the first half of the
2000s – a level not seen since the late 1970s.
The 2000s have been a time of both celebration and
change in the NHS. 2008 marked its 60th anniversary
and the achievements of the NHS were celebrated at
the London 2012 Olympic Games. In 2013, it underwent
major changes in order to deliver the ambitions set out
in the Health & Social Care Act. This included budget
allocation, assigning key decision-makers and service
commissioning.
The decade saw a more structured separation between
respiratory, ophthalmic and telecommunications
services. The companies were distinctly named: Haag-
Streit UK (HS-UK), Clement Clarke International (CCI) and
Clement Clarke Communications (CCC).
In 2015, Clement Clarke Holdings (CCH) was also
established.
The focus on innovation – an ongoing theme in
every chapter of the Clement Clarke company
history – has been no less evident over the past 17
years. Partnerships with carefully-selected third party
manufacturers has enabled HS-UK to continue offering
cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, meeting the ever-
changing demands of the industry. CCI has continued
to bring new respiratory products to market and has
produced numerous scientific papers about exciting
product developments.
22

NHS Initiatives
& Manufacturer
Relationships
In December 2001, the National
Services Framework (NSF) for
Diabetes standards document
was published, outlining specific
standards of care for people
with diabetes. This was followed
by the Diabetes NSF Delivery
Strategy in January 2003 and the
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Programme which was rolled
out nationwide. In 2007, ‘pump
priming’ capital funding was
made available, with local
healthcare providers allocated a
share of a national fund of £28m
to equip their service to test for
diabetic retinopathy. This led to
an increased demand for digital
retinal cameras.
Optical Coherence Tomography
(OCT) equipment became
commercially available in 2006
and was quickly established in
the NHS as the gold-standard for
imaging structural changes in the
retina. This led to an increase in
the number of NHS ophthalmic
departments purchasing OCT
equipment.
To quickly meet hospital demand
and to ensure that the HS-UK
product portfolio supported these
initiatives, HS-UK negotiated
distributorships with third party
equipment manufacturers, such
as Heidelberg Engineering Ltd.*,
Canon*, Optovue and CenterVue
to distribute, support and service
OCT and retinal imaging products.
This led to a substantial increase
in the sales of products such as
the Spectralis OCT, Canon DGI and
DRS retinal cameras.
Many of these third party
distributorships are still strong
today and enable HS-UK to
continually provide innovative
technology. More recently, HS-UK
offered the first commercially
available OCT-A in the UK, with
the inclusion of Optovue’s
AngioVue in its product portfolio.
*HS-UK no longer has a distribution agreement with
this manufacturer
A New Group Company
In 2012, Clement Clarke Holdings
Ltd. (CCH) was created to support
each of the four UK operating
companies: HS-UK, CCC, CCI and
John Weiss & Son Ltd., enabling
them to focus on their particular
business models and growing
market share.
Utilising centralised support
operations in Harlow, CCH
took responsibility for six core
functions: HR, IT, Quality Assurance,
Quality Control, Site Services and
Logistics, including direct report
responsibilities to its parent
company, Haag-Streit Holdings.
CCH currently employs 34
people with a variety of skills and
competencies to underpin the
services provided.
Since the 1930s, the company
has provided repair services on
its product range and, over the
years, the service offering has been
developed and expanded.
The HS-UK Service Division
employs a team of Field Service
Engineers covering the whole of
the UK.This team is fully supported
by a department of in-house
Service Engineers and help desk
staff located at its purpose-built
workshop facilities and call centre
in Harlow.
The Service
Division offers a range
of service solutions, from standard
Gold, Silver and Bronze service
contracts to tailored bespoke
contracts and out-of-hours
services, customised to meet the
needs of individual hospitals or
clinics.
In addition, the HS-UK Service
Division offers pre-sales
consultancy, pre-delivery
inspection, equipment audits,
equipment relocation, first-line user
maintenance training,
loan stock offering, PAT testing and
IT/network services.
The HS-UK Service Division is
committed to the critical area
of maintenance and support,
and strives to limit equipment
downtime, giving customers full
peace-of-mind.
Expansion of the
HS-UK Service
Division
23

CLEMENT CLARKE
HISTORY TIMELINE
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960
1917
Clement
Clarke
Dispensing
Opticians
founded
1924
First British slit
lamp launched
1926
Fincham
ophthalmoscope
developed
1927
Hanwell Optical
Company founded
1931
Synoptophore
launched
1934
Prosthetics
Department
formed
1935
Contact lens
production
begins
1937
Allied Instrument
Manufacturers
(AIM) founded
1937
John Clarke
joins company
1939
Plastic lenses
& artificial eyes
developed
1942
Airborne
Equipment
founded
1944
Contract
for 30,000
artificial eyes
awarded by
the War Office
1946
Clement
Clarke dies
1947
Airborne Equipment
becomes Airmed Ltd
1941
Sight safety
flying goggles
produced
1941
E-Type RAF
oxygen mask
manufactured
1949
Airlene Inhaler
development
commenced
1949
Marrett Head
commercially
produced
1951
Company
moves to
Harlow
1956
Airmed selected
by MRC to
introduce Wright
Peak Flow Meter
1958
Airlite 62
headset
launched
1958
Appointed
Haag-Streit AG slit
lamp distributor
1946
Alex Clarke
becomes
chairman
1958
Alex Clarke dies,
John Clarke becomes
chairman
24

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
1967
Friedmann VFA
launched
1969
Clement Clarke
Holdings PLC
formed
1971
Perkins Mk1
launched
1971
John Weiss
& Son Ltd
acquired
1972
Plastic peak flow
gauge developed
1974
Clement Clarke
International
(CCI) formed
1976
Mini-Wright
Peak Flow
Meter
launched
1975
Perkins Mk1 wins
Design Council
Award
1975
Airlite headsets
dominate the
private flying
market
1977
Diag portable slit
lamp produced
1985
Perkins Mk2
tonometer
launched
1980
Mini-Wright
selected for
Design Council
Award
1987
Opticians
stores sold to
Boots PLC
1989
CCI
purchased
by Haag-Streit AG
1996
BA904 slit
lamp
launched
1996
Medix range
of nebulisers
acquired
1990
1992
1996
VM1, VMX and
VM Plus portable
electronic
spirometers
launched
1998
Tonosafe
disposable
prisms launched
1998
CCI
communications
division renamed
Clement Clarke
Communications
(CCC)
2002
CCI acquires
Lifecare Hospital
Supplied Ltd
2005
CCI ophthalmic
division
renamed
HS-UK
2011
Perkins
Mk3
launched
2012
Clement Clarke
(Holdings)
admin/support
division formed
2014
CCC
sold to
MEL
Group
2015
Flo-Tone
inhaler
launched
2017
HS-UK
Service
Division
expands
25

We would like to thank the following
for their contribution to this book;
Richard Clarke
Janine Clarke
Brian West
David Wilkinson
Neil Handley, College of Optometrists
Lizzie Baker, MEL Group
Ian Knight, MEL Aviation Limited
Philip Riegel, Haag-Streit Diagnostics
Weibke Raethcke, Haag-Streit Surgical
Alex Massa, Haag-Streit USA
Hilary Dolby & Michael Bench, John Weiss & Son Limited
Dean Johnson, Haag-Streit UK
Mark Sanders, Clement Clarke International
Royal College of Anaesthetists
Royal College of Ophthalmology
Federation of Manufacturing Optometrists
Imperial War Museum – Duxford
Boots UK Corporate Records & Archives
The Wellcome Library
British Pathé
Production by Haag-Streit UK Marketing Department,
CCI Marketing Department & Gradient Creative;
Sharon Mills
Rebecca Seymour
Victoria Chapman-Brown
Gill Assheton
Catherine Bannister
Keely Rumble
Alastair Taylor
© Clement Clarke Holdings. Edinburgh Way, Harlow, Essex CM20 2TT.
E&OE. December 2017
26

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